U.S. patent application number 11/424318 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-05 for recording medium having a substrate containing microscopic pattern of parallel groove and land sections and recording/reproducing equipment therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Victor Company of Japan, Limited. Invention is credited to Tetsuya Kondo, Kenji Oishi.
Application Number | 20060221805 11/424318 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27345611 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060221805 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kondo; Tetsuya ; et
al. |
October 5, 2006 |
RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING A SUBSTRATE CONTAINING MICROSCOPIC PATTERN
OF PARALLEL GROOVE AND LAND SECTIONS AND RECORDING/REPRODUCING
EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
Abstract
An information recording medium 1 at least comprises a substrate
13 having a microscopic pattern 20, which is constituted by a shape
of continuous substance of approximately parallel grooves formed
with a groove section G and a land section L alternately, a
recording layer 12 formed on the microscopic pattern 20 and a light
transmission layer 11 formed on the recording layer. The
microscopic pattern 20 is formed so as to satisfy a relation of
P<.lamda.<NA and a thickness of the light transmission layer
11 is within a range of 0.07 to 0.12 mm, wherein P is a pitch of
the groove section G or the land section L, .lamda. is a wavelength
of reproducing light beam and NA is a numerical aperture of an
objective lens. Further, there provided an information recording
medium, which is improved in cross erase and recorded in high
density, and a reproducing apparatus and a recording apparatus for
the information recording medium.
Inventors: |
Kondo; Tetsuya;
(Kanagawa-ken, JP) ; Oishi; Kenji; (Yokohama,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP;Suite 800
1990 M Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
Victor Company of Japan,
Limited
Kanagawa-ku
JP
221-8528
|
Family ID: |
27345611 |
Appl. No.: |
11/424318 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10028978 |
Dec 28, 2001 |
|
|
|
11424318 |
Jun 15, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
369/275.3 ;
G9B/20.009; G9B/7.03; G9B/7.031; G9B/7.139 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 7/246 20130101;
G11B 7/24079 20130101; G11B 7/00718 20130101; G11B 7/0045 20130101;
G11B 20/10 20130101; G11B 7/24082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/275.3 |
International
Class: |
G11B 7/24 20060101
G11B007/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2000 |
JP |
2000-400668 |
Dec 28, 2000 |
JP |
2000-400667 |
Sep 25, 2001 |
JP |
2001-290997 |
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. An information recording medium comprising: a substrate having
a microscopic pattern, having a continuous shape of approximately
parallel grooves formed with alternating groove and land sections;
a recording layer formed on the microscopic pattern; a light
transmission layer formed on the recording layer, wherein the
microscopic pattern is formed so as to satisfy a relation of
P<.lamda./NA and a thickness of the light transmission layer is
within a range of 0.07 to 0.12 mm, wherein P is a pitch of the
groove section or the land section, .lamda. is a wavelength of
reproducing light beam and NA is a numerical aperture of an
objective lens; and wherein the wavelength .lamda. is within a
range of 350 to 450 nm and the numerical aperture NA is within a
range of 0.75 t 0.9, and wherein the land section is wobbled in the
radial direction and having a wobbled shape corresponding to a
signal to be recorded on the land section resulting from the
modulation of a phase modulated wave that is further modulated by a
single frequency wave, the single frequency wave having a frequency
of integral multiples or one over integral multiples of a frequency
of the phase modulated wave, and wherein the frequency of the
single frequency wave is different from that of the phase modulated
wave.
11. A reproducing apparatus comprising: a recording medium having
(a) a substrate having a microscopic pattern, having a continuous
shape of approximately parallel grooves formed with alternating
groove and land sections; (b) a recording layer formed on the
microscopic pattern; (c) a light transmission layer formed on the
recording layer; wherein the microscopic pattern is formed so as to
satisfy a relation of P<.lamda./NA and a thickness of the light
transmission layer is within a range of 0.07 to 0.12 mm, and
wherein P is a pitch of the groove section or the land section,
.lamda. is a wavelength of reproducing light beam and NA is a
numerical aperture of an objective lens; and wherein the land
section is wobbled in the radial direction and having a wobbled
shape corresponding to a signal to be recorded on the land section
resulting from the modulation of a phase modulated wave that is
further modulated by a single frequency wave, the single frequency
wave having a frequency of integral multiples or one over integral
multiples of a frequency of the phase modulated wave, and wherein
the frequency of the single frequency wave is different from that
of the phase modulated wave; the reproducing apparatus further
comprising: (d) a pickup composed of a light emitting element
having a wavelength of .lamda. within a range of 350 to 450 nm and
an objective lens having a numerical aperture of NA within a range
of 0.75 to 0.9 for reading out reflected light from the information
recording medium; (e) a motor for rotating the information
recording medium; (f) servo means for controlling the drive of the
pickup and the motor; (g) a turntable for supporting the
information recording medium while rotating; (h) demodulator means
for demodulating an information signal read out by the pickup; (i)
interface (I/F) means for transmitting a signal demodulated by the
demodulator externally; (j) controlling means for controlling the
entire reproducing apparatus; and (k) an auxiliary information
demodulator for demodulating a differential signal outputted from
the pickup.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an information recording
medium, a reproducing apparatus and a recording apparatus, which
read out information from the information recording medium with
making it move relatively, particularly, relates to an information
recording medium to be recorded and/or reproduced through an
optical device, and a reproducing apparatus and a recording
apparatus for such an information recording medium.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Until now, there is existed a system for reading out
information from an information recording medium, which is made
relatively move. In such a system, reproduction is performed by
using a device such as an optical device, a magnetic device and a
capacitive device. A system, which records and/or reproduces by an
optical device, is used extensively in daily living. With respect
to a read only information recording medium to be reproduced by
using a light beam having a wavelength .lamda. of 650 nm, for
example, mediums such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) Video
prerecorded with video information, a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile
Disc-Read Only Memory) prerecorded with a program or like, and a
DVD Audio disc and an SACD (Super Audio Compact Disc) prerecorded
with musical information are well known.
[0005] Further, there is provided a DVD-R (Digital Versatile
Disk-Recordable) as a recordable recording and reproducing type
information recording medium, which uses dye. Furthermore, there is
provided a DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disc-Random Access Memory), a
DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disk-ReWritable) and a DVD+RW (Digital
Versatile Disk+ReWritable) as a recording and reproducing type
information recording medium, which use phase change. Moreover,
there is provided an ASMO (Advanced Storage Magneto-Optical) disc,
an iD (intelligent image) disc and a GIGAMO (GIGA-byte
Magneto-Optical) disc as a recording and reproducing type
information recording medium using photo-magnetism.
[0006] On the other hand, in order to increase recording density of
an information recording medium, a study for shortening a
wavelength of laser beam has been continued for a long period of
time. A second harmonic generating element invented recently and a
semiconductor light emitting element composed of gallium nitride
system compound (disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 2778405, for
example), emit light having a wavelength .lamda. of approximately
350 to 450 nm. Consequently, these elements can become an important
light emitting element, which increases a recording density
sharply.
[0007] In addition thereto, design for an objective lens coping
with such a wavelength has been advanced, particularly, a lens
having a numerical aperture (NA) of more than 0.7, which exceeds
the NA 0.6 utilized for a DVD disc, is currently developed. As
mentioned above, a reproducing apparatus for an information
recording medium having capability such that a wavelength .lamda.
is shortened to 350 to 450 nm and an NA is more than 0.7 has been
developing. It is expected that an optical disc system, which has a
higher recording density extremely exceeding that of a current DVD
disc, can be developed by using these techniques.
[0008] By using such a light beam having a shorter wavelength than
one for a DVD disc and a lens having a higher NA, an information
recording medium having an extremely higher recording density can
be realized. However, coma aberration also increases extremely when
an information recording medium is slanted. Consequently, an
information recording medium of which thickness for light
transmission is made extremely thinner than that of a DVD disc is
required. Actually, a disc system called a "DVR land groove" has
been proposed. In the disc system, by using a light emitting
element having a wavelength of 405 nm and an objective lens having
an NA of 0.85, a thickness of disc for light transmission is
designed for 0.1 mm.
[0009] With referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional information
recording medium is explained.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional
information recording medium according to the prior art.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partially enlarged, of
the conventional information recording medium shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, an information recording medium 100 is
composed of a recording layer 120 and a light transmission layer
110, which are laminated on a substrate 130 in order. The substrate
130 is formed with a microscopic pattern 200. The recording layer
120 is formed on the microscopic pattern 200 directly. The
microscopic pattern 200 has microscopic patterns composed of land
sections L1 and L2 (hereinafter generically referred to as "land
section L") and groove sections G1 through G3 (hereinafter
generically referred to as "groove section G").
[0013] While recording, as shown in FIG. 2, a record mark M is
formed on both the land section L and the groove section G (it is
called a land-groove recording method.)
[0014] With paying attention to dimensions of the microscopic
pattern 200, with defining that a minimum distance between the
centers of adjacent groove sections G is a pitch P (a minimum
distance between the centers of adjacent land sections L is also
the pitch P), the land section L and the groove section G are
formed so as to satisfy a relation P>S with respect to a
reproduction spot diameter S of a light beam.
[0015] Further, the reproduction spot diameter S can be calculated
by an equation S=.lamda./NA, where .lamda. is a wavelength of a
laser beam for reproduction and NA is a numerical aperture of an
objective lens. In other words, the pitch P is designed in order to
satisfy a relation P>.lamda./NA.
[0016] In the information recording medium 100, an information
recorded in the recording layer 120 is read out by irradiating a
reproducing light beam incident on the light transmission layer
110. The information is taken out through the light transmission
layer 110 after the reproducing light beam has been reflected by
the surface of the recording layer 130 and reproduced.
[0017] The inventors of the present invention performed an
experiment for recording and reproducing the information recording
medium 100 actually manufactured by using a light emitting element
radiating a light beam having a single wavelength within a range of
350 to 450 nm and an objective lens having a higher NA of 0.75 to
0.9, and then it is found that a cross erase phenomenon was
remarkable.
[0018] The cross erase phenomenon is a phenomenon such that an
information to be recorded in a land section L, for example, is
recorded in a groove section G with overlapping a signal previously
recorded in the groove section G when recording the information in
the land section L. In other words, it is such a phenomenon that an
information previously recorded in a groove section G is erased by
recording another information in a land section L.
[0019] Further, this phenomenon can also be noticeable in a reverse
case. That is, the cross erase phenomenon is also recognized if a
previously recorded information in a land section L is observed
when recording an information in a groove section G.
[0020] If the cross erase phenomenon occurs, as mentioned above, an
information recorded in an adjacent track is damaged. In a case of
an information system having larger capacity, an amount of lost
information becomes excessively large. Consequently, affection to a
user is enormous. Therefore, it is considered for such an
information recording medium 100 that an information shall be
recorded only in either land section L or groove section G.
However, recording capacity of an information recording medium will
decrease and a merit of the information recording medium having a
potential of recording in higher density will decline.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Accordingly, in consideration of the above-mentioned
problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to
provide an information recording medium, which is improved in the
cross erase phenomenon and recorded in a higher density, and a
reproducing apparatus thereof and a recording medium thereof.
[0022] Particularly, an object of the present invention is to
provide an information recording medium with assuming that it is
recorded and reproduced by a light beam having a wavelength of 350
to 450 nm and a reproducing apparatus and a recording apparatus
thereof.
[0023] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
provides, according to an aspect thereof, an information recording
medium, which at least comprising: a substrate having a microscopic
pattern, which is constituted by a shape of continuous substance of
approximately parallel grooves formed with a groove section and a
land section alternately; a recording layer formed on the
microscopic pattern; and a light transmission layer formed on the
recording layer, the information recording layer is characterized
in that the microscopic pattern is formed so as to satisfy a
relation of P<.lamda.<NA and a thickness of the light
transmission layer is within a range of 0.07 to 0.12 mm, wherein P
is a pitch of the groove section or the land section, .lamda. is a
wavelength of reproducing light beam and NA is a numerical aperture
of objective lens.
[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
provided a reproducing apparatus, which reproduces an information
recording medium at least comprising: a substrate having a
microscopic pattern, which is constituted by a shape of continuous
substance of approximately parallel grooves formed with a groove
section and a land section alternately; a recording layer formed on
the microscopic pattern; and a light transmission layer formed on
the recording layer, wherein the information recording layer is
characterized in that the microscopic pattern is formed so as to
satisfy a relation of P<.lamda.<NA and a thickness of the
light transmission layer is within a range of 0.07 to 0.12 mm, and
wherein P is a pitch of the groove section or the land section,
.lamda. is a wavelength of reproducing light beam and NA is a
numerical aperture of objective lens, the reproducing apparatus
comprising:
[0025] a pickup composed of a light emitting element having a
wavelength of .lamda. within a range of 350 to 450 nm and an
objective lens having a numerical aperture of NA within a range of
0.75 to 0.9 for reading out reflected light from the information
recording medium; a motor for rotating the information recording
medium; a servo device for controlling to drive the pickup and the
motor; a turntable for supporting the information recording medium
while rotating; a demodulator for demodulating an information
signal read out by the pickup; an interface (I/F) for transmitting
a signal demodulated by the demodulator externally; and a
controller for controlling the reproducing apparatus totally.
[0026] According to further aspect of the present invention, there
provided a recording apparatus for recording an original
information signal on an information recording medium at least
comprising: a substrate having a microscopic pattern, which is
constituted by a shape of continuous substance of approximately
parallel grooves formed with a groove section and a land section
alternately; a recording layer formed on the microscopic pattern;
and a light transmission layer formed on the recording layer,
wherein the information recording layer is characterized in that
the microscopic pattern is formed so as to satisfy a relation of
P<.lamda.<NA and a thickness of the light transmission layer
is within a range of 0.07 to 0.12 mm, and wherein P is a pitch of
the groove section or the land section, .lamda. is a wavelength of
reproducing light beam and NA is a numerical aperture of objective
lens, the recording apparatus comprising: a pickup composed of a
light emitting element having a wavelength of .lamda. within a
range of 350 to 450 nm and an objective lens having a numerical
aperture of NA within a range of 0.75 to 0.9 for reading out
reflected light from and recording on the information recording
medium; a motor for rotating the information recording medium; a
servo device for controlling to drive the pickup and the motor; a
turntable for supporting the information recording medium while
rotating; an interface (I/F) for receiving the original information
signal to be recorded; a modulator for modulating the original
information signal; a waveform converter for converting the
original information signal into a format suitable for a recording
characteristic of the recording layer of the information recording
medium; an auxiliary information demodulator for demodulating a
differential signal outputted from the pickup; and a controller for
controlling the recording apparatus totally.
[0027] Other object and further features of the present invention
will be apparent from the following detailed description when read
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional
information recording medium according to the prior art.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, partially enlarged, of
the conventional information recording medium shown in FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an information recording
medium according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, partially enlarged, of
the information recording medium shown in FIG. 3.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an information recording
medium according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an information recording
medium according to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of an information recording
medium according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view in partially enlarged of an
information recording medium according to a fifth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, partially enlarged, of an
amplitude modulation address recorded in an information recording
medium according to the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view, partially enlarged, of a
frequency modulation address recorded in an information recording
medium according to the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view, partially enlarged, of a
first phase modulation address recorded in an information recording
medium according to the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view, partially enlarged, of a
second phase modulation address recorded in an information
recording medium according to the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 13 is a table exhibiting a change of fundamental data
of before and after a base-band modulation.
[0041] FIG. 14 is a table of definite example exhibiting a change
of data array of before and after a base-band modulation.
[0042] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a first reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 16 is a graph exhibiting a relation between modulated
amplitude and error rate.
[0044] FIG. 17 is a graph exhibiting a relation between a
reflectivity and an error rate.
[0045] FIG. 18 is a table showing reflectivity and reproduction
characteristics of embodiments 6 through 12 and comparative
examples 4 and 5.
[0046] FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a second reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a recording apparatus
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0048] With referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an information recording
medium according to a first embodiment of the present invention
will be explained.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an information recording
medium according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, partially enlarged, of
the information recording medium shown in FIG. 3.
[0051] In FIG. 3, an information recording medium 1 is at least
composed of a recording layer 12 and a light transmission layer 11,
which are formed and laminated on a substrate 13 formed with a
rugged microscopic pattern 20 in order. Ruggedness of the
microscopic pattern 20 is almost in a shape of continuous substance
of parallel grooves G1 through G5 (hereinafter generically referred
to as groove section G), wherein a plurality of land L1 through L4
(hereinafter generically referred to as land section L) is provided
between the groove sections G.
[0052] The information recording medium 1 is a read only type
medium, which can be reproduced by using an apparatus composed of a
light emitting element radiating a light beam having a single
wavelength within a range of 350 to 450 nm and an objective lens
having an NA of 0.75 to 0.9. Further, a shape of the information
recording medium 1 can be applicable to any shape such as a disc, a
card and a strip or tape. Furthermore, it is also applicable to a
circular, square or oval shape. Moreover, a hole can be provided
thereon.
[0053] In FIG. 4, "M" is a record mark formed on each of the land
sections L1 through L4 (hereinafter referred to as land section L
generically) while recording. "P" is a pitch distance between the
centers of groove sections G2 and G3 (hereinafter referred to as
groove section G generically). "S" is a spot diameter of
reproducing light beam (reproduction spot diameter).
[0054] In the following paragraphs, the substrate 13, the recording
layer 12 and the light transmission layer 11 will be detailed.
[0055] The substrate 13 is a base having a function of mechanically
holding the recording layer 12 and the light transmission layer 11
formed thereon. With respect to a material of the substrate 13, any
one of synthetic resin, ceramic and metal can be used.
[0056] Typical examples of the synthetic resin are as follows:
polycarbonate, polymethyle methacrylate, polystyrene, copolymer of
polycarbonate and polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, alicyclic
polyolefin, various thermoplastic and thermosetting resins such as
polymethyle pentene and various energy ray curable resins
(including examples of ultraviolet (UV) ray curable resins, visible
light curable resins and electron beam curable resins). They can be
used suitably. Further, these materials can be applicable to be
combined with metal powder or ceramic powder.
[0057] Further, typical examples of ceramics are as follows: soda
lime glass, soda aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass and
silica glass. Furthermore, a metal plate such as aluminum having no
ability for light transmission can be used as a typical example of
metal.
[0058] In order to support other layers mechanically, thickness of
the substrate 13 is 0.3 to 3 mm, preferably 0.5 to 2 mm. In a case
that the information recording medium 1 is shaped in disc, it is
most desirable to be designed such that a total thickness including
the substrate 13, the recording layer 12 and the light transmission
layer 11 becomes 1.2 mm so as to be interchangeable with
conventional optical discs.
[0059] The recording layer 12 is a thin film layer having a
function of reading out information, recording information or
rewriting information. In the recording layer 12, information is
recorded in either one section of the land section L and the groove
section G. A material, which generates a change of reflectivity, a
change of refractive index or both of them, is utilized for the
recording layer 12. With respect to a material for the recording
layer 12, there is provided a phase change material, which
generates a change of reflectivity or change of refractive index or
both changes between amorphous and crystal by thermal recording, or
a dye material.
[0060] There is provided phase change materials such as Ge--Sb--Te
system, Ag--In--Sb--Te system, Cu--Al--Sb--Te system and
Ag--Al--Sb--Te system. These recording materials can contain one or
more elements as an additive element within a range of more than
0.01 atomic % and less than 10 atomic % in total. Such an additive
element is selected out of Cu, Ba, Co, Cr, Ni, Pt, Si, Sr, Au, Cd,
Li, Mo, Mn, Zn, Fe, Pb, Na, Cs, Ga, Pd, Bi, Sn, Ti, V, Ge, Se, S,
As, Tl and In.
[0061] With respect to compositions of each element, for example,
there is existed Ge.sub.2Sb.sub.2Te.sub.5,
Ge.sub.1Sb.sub.2Te.sub.4, Ge.sub.8Sb.sub.69Te.sub.23,
Ge.sub.8Sb.sub.74Te.sub.18, Ge.sub.5Sb.sub.71Te.sub.24,
Ge.sub.5Sb.sub.76Te.sub.19, Ge.sub.10Sb.sub.68Te.sub.22 and
Ge.sub.10Sb.sub.72Te.sub.18 and a system adding a metal such as Sn
and In to the Ge--Sb--Te system as for the Ge--Sb--Te system.
Further, as for the Ag--In--Sb--Te system, there is existed
Ag.sub.4In.sub.4Sb.sub.66Te.sub.26,
Ag.sub.4In.sub.4Sb.sub.64Te.sub.28,
Ag.sub.2In.sub.6Sb.sub.64Te.sub.28,
Ag.sub.3In.sub.5Sb.sub.64Te.sub.28,
Ag.sub.2In.sub.6Sb.sub.66Te.sub.26, and a system adding a metal or
semiconductor such as Cu, Fe and Ge to the Ag--In--Sb--Te
system.
[0062] With respect to a dye material, porphyrin dye, cyanine dye,
phthalocyanine pigment, naphthalocyanine pigment, azo dye,
naphthoquinone dye, fulgide dye, polymethine dye and acridine dye
can be used.
[0063] Furthermore, with respect to a material for the recording
layer 12, a magneto-optical material, which is reproduced by a
change of Kerr rotation angle, can also be used. More accurately,
alloys composed of an element such as terbium, cobalt, iron,
gadolinium, chromium, neodymium, dysprosium, bismuth, palladium,
samarium, holmium, praseodymium, manganese, titanium, erbium,
ytterbium, lutetium and tin are used, (wherein an alloy includes a
compound such as oxide, nitride, carbide, sulfide and fluoride).
Particularly, constituting an alloy of a transition metal, which is
represented by TbFeCo, GdFeCo and DyFeCo, with rare earth element
is preferable. Moreover, the recording layer 12 can be constituted
by using an alternate lamination layer of cobalt and platinum.
[0064] With respect to a forming method of these phase change
material, dye material and magneto-optical material, such methods
as vacuum deposition of resister heating type or electron beam
type, direct current sputtering, high frequency sputtering,
reactive sputtering, ion beam sputtering, ion plating and chemical
vapor deposition (CVD) can be used. Further, with respect to a
material out of dye materials, particularly, a material solvable by
solvent, a liquid phase film forming method such as dip coating,
spin coating, bar coating, knife coating and roll coating can be
used.
[0065] The light transmission layer 11 has a function of
transmitting a converged reproducing light to the recording layer
12 in a condition of less optical distortion (the reproducing light
is shown by an arrow in FIG. 3). For example, by using a
reproducing light having a wavelength .lamda., a material having a
light transmittance of more than 70% with respect to the
reproducing light having the wavelength .lamda., preferably more
than 80% can be utilized suitably. It is necessary for the light
transmission layer 11 to be less optical anisotropy. With
considering to control reduction of reproducing light, actually, a
material having a birefringence of less than .+-.100 nm, preferably
.+-.50 nm, more preferably .+-.30 nm by 90-degree (vertical)
incident double paths is used.
[0066] Materials having such a characteristic such as
polycarbonate, polymethyle methacrylate, cellulose triacetate,
polystyrene, copolymer of polycarbonate and polystyrene, polyvinyl
chloride, alicyclic polyolefin and polymethyle pentene an be used
the light transmission layer 11.
[0067] Further, it can be applicable to the light transmission
layer 11 that the light transmission layer 11 has a function of
protecting the recording layer 12 mechanically and chemically. With
respect to materials having such a function, a material having
higher stiffness such as, for example, transparent ceramics (such
as soda lime glass, soda aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass
and silica glass), thermosetting plastics and energy ray curable
resins (such as UV ray curable resins, visible light curable resins
and electron beam curable resins) can be suitably used.
[0068] Furthermore, a thickness of the light transmission layer 11
is desired to be less than 0.120 mm from a point of view that coma
aberration can be suppressed when the information recording medium
1 is slanted with respect to a reproducing light beam or recording
light beam. More, from another point of view of preventing the
recording layer 12 from a scratch, it is desired to be more than
0.07 mm. In other words, the thickness is desired to be within a
range of 0.070 to 0.120 mm. If a material of the light transmission
layer 11 is one of the materials mentioned above, an index "z" of
refraction is 1.45 to 1.7. Therefore, in a case of considering
optical factors, a range of ideal thickness of the light
transmission layer 11 is 0.093 to 0.107 mm.
[0069] Moreover, scattering of thickness in one plane shall be
.+-.0.003 mm at the maximum, desirably less than .+-.0.002 mm. More
desirably, it must be less than .+-.0.001 mm.
[0070] With referring to FIG. 4, the microscopic pattern 20, which
is one of the features of the present invention, is explained
next.
[0071] As mentioned above, microscopically, the microscopic pattern
20 is composed of a continuous substance of almost parallel
grooves. On the other hand, macroscopically, it can be formed in
any shape such as line, coaxial and spiral.
[0072] As shown in FIG. 4, in the microscopic pattern 20, a raised
portion is the land section L and a sunken portion is the groove
section G, wherein they are arranged alternately in parallel with
each other.
[0073] The groove section G follows the definition of the Table
4.4-1 listed in the text "Understanding Optical Disc by this"
(edited by the Japan Patent Office, published in 2000 by Japan
Institute of Invention and Innovation). That is to say, in a disc,
the groove section G is "a sunken groove, which is previously
provided spirally or coaxially in order to form a recording track
on a surface of substrate". Further, the land section L also
follows the definition in the same text. That is, in a disc, the
land section L is "a raised portion, which is previously provided
spirally or coaxially in order to form a recording track on a
surface of substrate", wherein the substrate is equivalent to the
substrate 13 of the present invention.
[0074] If it is defined that a minimum distance between the centers
of adjacent groove sections G is the pitch P (a minimum distance
between the centers of adjacent land sections L is also the pitch
P), the land section L and the groove section G are formed so as to
satisfy a relation P<S with respect to the reproduction spot
diameter S of a light beam, wherein the reproduction spot diameter
S is calculated by a equation S=.lamda./NA, where .lamda. is a
wavelength of a laser beam for reproduction and NA is a numerical
aperture of an objective lens. In other words, the pitch P
satisfies a relation P<.lamda./NA. For example, the pitch P is
set to be within a range of 250 to 600 nm. If it is considered that
a HDTV (High Definition Television) picture is recorded for a
period of two hours approximately, the pitch P is desirable to be
within a range of 250 to 450 nm.
[0075] An appropriate depth of the groove G is within a range of 10
to 300 nm, particularly, with considering a wavelength .lamda. of a
reproduction optical system, the depth is suitable within a range
of .lamda./(8z) to .lamda./(18z), wherein "z" is an index of
refraction of the light transmission layer 11 at the wavelength
.lamda.. In a case of considering that .lamda.=405 nm and z=1.6
(polycarbonate), for example, a most suitable range of the depth is
within a range of 14 to 32 nm.
[0076] Microscopically, one groove section G and the other groove
section G, one land section L and the other land section G, and the
groove section G and the land section L are in parallel to each
other respectively. However, in order to embed an analog or digital
auxiliary information such as clock and address, these sections can
be wobbled very little.
[0077] For example, it is acceptable that these grooves are
recorded with a single frequency so as to embed clock, and
consequently wobbled sinusoidally on the surface of the substrate
13. In order to embed an auxiliary information (sub information)
such as address, these grooves can be modulated in amplitude
modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM)
and wobbled in various patterns.
[0078] In other words, at least either one of an area recorded with
a single frequency for clock and a modulation recording area for
embedding address can be formed in either the groove section G or
the land section L. A modulation method for embedding the auxiliary
information (sub information) such as address will be detailed.
[0079] In a case that the information recording medium 1 is shaped
in disc, the wobbling mentioned above can be recorded by the CAV
(Constant Angular Velocity) method or the CLV (Constant Linear
Velocity) method. Further, with forming zones varying by radius,
the ZCAV (Zone Constant Angular Velocity) method or the ZCLV (Zone
Constant Linear Velocity) method of which controlling varies by
each zone can also be adopted.
[0080] Furthermore, although it is not shown, the groove section G
or the land section L is cut in pieces over a certain area in order
to embed an auxiliary information such as address, an inherent pit
can be formed. More, by allocating an inherent pit in the groove
section G adjacent to the land section L, or by allocating the
inherent pit in the land section L in adjacent to the groove
section G, an auxiliary information such as address can be
embedded. Moreover, a hologram or a visible microscopic pattern for
identifying the information recording medium 1 can be formed in an
area other than a recording area.
[0081] In the information recording medium 1, an information
recorded in the recording layer 12 is read out by irradiating a
reproducing light beam incident on the light transmission layer 11.
The information is taken out through the light transmission layer
11 after the reproducing light beam has been reflected by the
surface of the recording layer 13 and reproduced.
[0082] The surface itself of the recording layer 12 of the
information recording medium 1 has a certain degree of
reflectivity, so that a reproduction can be functioned by the
recording layer 12 as it is. However, in order to improve a
reflectivity of a reproducing light beam and to add other functions
such as increasing a number of rewritings and improving weather
resistance, a reflective layer or a protective layer can be
provided in adjacent to the recording layer 12. In addition
thereto, materials for the reflective layer and the protective
layer will be detailed.
[0083] Cross erase of the information recording medium 1 of the
present invention is evaluated in comparison with that of the
conventional information recording medium 100.
[0084] The configuration of the information recording mediums 1 and
100 are such that the substrates 13 and 130 are polycarbonate
resin, the recording layers 12 and 120 are AgInSbTe one of phase
change materials and the light transmission layers 11 and 110 are
polycarbonate resin.
[0085] Evaluation is performed as follows: recording a second track
and reproducing, recording first and third tracks with a frequency
other than that of recorded in the second track 10 times, and then
measuring an output of the second track once again.
[0086] As a result of the evaluation, by the conventional
information recording medium 100, cross ease of -5 dB in maximum is
observed. However, by the information recording medium 1 of the
present invention, cross ease of -2 dB in maximum is observed. That
is to say, in the conventional information recording medium 100, an
output reduces by 5 dB in comparison with an output of the second
track if the first and third tracks are not recorded. On the
contrary, an output of the information recording medium 1 of the
present invention reduces by only 2 dB.
[0087] In other words, by using the information recording medium 1
according to the present invention, cross erase is improved by 3 dB
in comparison with the conventional information recording medium
100.
[0088] According to an aspect of the first embodiment of the
present invention, as mentioned above, with defining that a pitch
between two adjacent groove sections G or land sections L is "P", a
wavelength of laser beam is ".lamda." and a numerical aperture of
objective lens is "NA", an information recording medium is
constituted such that a microscopic pattern 20 having a relation of
"P<.lamda.<NA" is formed and either the land section L or
groove section G is recorded. Accordingly, an information recording
medium, which is recorded in high density in conjunction with
enabling to reduce cross erase, can be obtained.
Second Embodiment
[0089] With referring to FIG. 5, an information recording medium
according to a second embodiment of the present invention is
explained.
[0090] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an information recording
medium according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0091] In FIG. 5, same compositions as those of the first
embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are indicated by the same sign as that
of the first embodiment respectively and their explanations are
omitted.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 5, an information recording medium 2 is the
same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for the
light transmission layer 11. A light transmission layer of the
second embodiment is composed of a light transmission layer 11a and
an adhesive light transmission layer 11b.
[0093] The light transmission layer 11a is identical to the light
transmission layer 11 of the first embodiment. On the contrary, the
adhesive light transmission layer 11b is a layer for adhering the
light transmission layer 11a to the recording layer 12 firmly and
an adhesive resin having a light transmittance of more than 70%,
desirably more than 80% for a light beam having a wavelength
.lamda.. Such an adhesive resin is as follows: thermosetting resin,
various energy ray curable resin (such as UV ray curable resin,
visible light curable resin and electron beam curable resin),
moisture curable resin, plural liquid mixture curable resin and
thermoplastic resin containing solvent.
[0094] A thickness of the adhesive light transmission layer 11b is
desirable to be more than 0.001 mm as a minimum thickness for
exhibiting adhesion and less than 0.04 mm in consideration of
preventing an adhesive material from stress crack, more desirable
to be within a range of more than 0.001 mm and less than 0.03 mm.
The most desirable thickness is within a range of more than 0.001
mm and less than 0.02 mm. However, in consideration of warp of the
total information recording medium 2, the thickness is most
desirable to be within a range of more than 0.001 mm and less than
0.01 mm.
[0095] With respect to a coating method of the light transmission
layer 11a, such a method as spin coat, splay, dip, blade coat, roll
coat, knife coating, screen printing and offset printing can be
used.
[0096] The information recording medium 2 of the second embodiment
is evaluated for cross erase by the same manner as that of the
first embodiment and an identical result with the first embodiment
is obtained.
[0097] Consequently, an identical effect with the information
recording medium 1 according to the first embodiment can be
obtained by the information recording medium 2 according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
Third Embodiment
[0098] With referring to FIG. 6, an information recording medium
according to a third embodiment of the present invention is
explained.
[0099] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an information recording
medium according to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0100] In FIG. 6, same compositions as those of the first
embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are indicated by the same sign as that
of the first embodiment respectively and their explanations are
omitted.
[0101] As shown in FIG. 6, an information recording medium 3 is the
same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for a
resin layer 14 formed with a microscopic pattern 21. The
information recording medium 3 is composed of the resin layer 14
formed with the microscopic pattern 21, a recording layer 12 and a
light transmission layer 11, which are laminated on a substrate 13a
in order.
[0102] In the information recording medium 3 according to the third
embodiment of the present invention, forming the microscopic
pattern 21 on the resin layer 14 is different from the first
embodiment of which the microscopic pattern 20 is formed on the
surface of the substrate 13.
[0103] A material for the resin layer 14 is as follows:
thermosetting resin, various energy ray curable resin (such as UV
ray curable resin, visible light curable resin and electron beam
curable resin), moisture curable resin, plural liquid mixture
curable resin and thermoplastic resin containing solvent. A light
beam for reproducing or recording does not reach as far as the
resin layer 14, so that there is no restriction for a transmittance
of material of the resin layer 14. With respect to a thickness of
the resin layer 14, it is desirable to be less than 0.02 mm in
consideration of warp of the information recording medium 3 in
total.
[0104] The information recording medium 3 of the third embodiment
is evaluated for cross erase by the same manner as that of the
first embodiment and an identical result with the first embodiment
is obtained.
[0105] Consequently, an identical effect with the information
recording medium 1 according to the first embodiment can be
obtained by the information recording medium 3 according to the
third embodiment of the present invention.
Fourth Embodiment
[0106] With referring to FIG. 7, an information recording medium
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is
explained.
[0107] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of an information recording
medium according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0108] In FIG. 7, a same composition as that of the first
embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is indicated by a same sign as that of
the first embodiment and its explanation is omitted.
[0109] As shown in FIG. 7, an information recording medium 4 is
composed of a pattern transferring layer 15 having a microscopic
pattern 22, a recording layer 12, an adhesive light transmission
layer 11a and a light transmission layer 11b, which are laminated
on a substrate 13b in order.
[0110] Further, in the information recording medium 4 according to
the fourth embodiment of the present invention, it is different
from the second embodiment that the top surface of the substrate
13b being in contact with the pattern transferring layer 15 is
flat, and that the microscopic pattern 22 is formed on the pattern
transferring layer 15 adjoining to the substrate 13b.
[0111] The pattern transferring layer 15 is an extremely thin film
so as to have the microscopic pattern 22. With respect to a
material for the pattern transferring layer 15, it is selected out
of a metal, its alloy (including composition such as oxide,
nitride, carbide, sulfide and fluoride), and resin. Further,
thickness of the material is chosen from a range of 5 nm to 0.020
mm approximately. A typical example of resin is such as novolac
photosensitive resin and polyhydroxy styrene photosensitive resin,
which can be developed by alkali.
[0112] The information recording medium 4 of the fourth embodiment
is evaluated for cross erase by the same manner as that of the
first embodiment and an identical result with the first embodiment
is obtained. Consequently, an identical effect with the information
recording medium 1 according to the first embodiment can be
obtained by the information recording medium 4 according to the
fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0113] It is apparent that each component of the information
recording mediums 1 through 4 shown in FIGS. 3 through 7
respectively can be replaced with each other or combined as far as
a reproduction characteristic is not deteriorated. For example, by
preparing two mediums out of the information recording mediums 1
through 4, they can be adhered together with facing each substrate
13, 13a or 13b (hereinafter generically referred to as "substrate
13") towards each other. Further, another set of the recording
layer 12 and the light transmission layer 11 or 11a (hereinafter
generically referred to as "light transmission layer 11") can be
laminated on the light transmission layer 11 of the information
recording mediums 1 through 4. By constituting as mentioned above,
a recording capacity of the information recording medium 1 through
4 can be increased approximately twice.
[0114] Furthermore, although not shown in any drawings, an
antistatic layer commonly known can be formed on the surface of
light transmission layer 11 opposite to the recording layer 12 in
order to decrease dust adhering to the surface of the light
transmission layer 11.
[0115] A hard coat layer or a lubricative layer (either one is not
shown) can be formed on the surface of the light transmission layer
11 opposite to the recording layer 12 for a purpose of reducing an
affection caused by an accidental collision of an objective lens,
which constitutes a pickup of reproduction apparatus such as shown
in FIG. 15, with the light transmission layer 11.
[0116] With respect to a material for such a hard coat layer, an
actual material having a light transparency of more than 70% for a
light beam having a wavelength .lamda. is as follows: thermosetting
resin, various energy ray curable resin (such as UV ray curable
resin, visible light curable resin and electron beam curable
resin), moisture curable resin, plural liquid mixture curable resin
and solvent containing thermoplastic resin.
[0117] The hard coat layer is desirable to exceed a certain value
of the "scratch test by pencil" regulated by the Japanese
Industrial Standard (JIS) K5400 in consideration of abrasion
resistance of the light transmission layer 11. In consideration of
that a hardest material of the objective lens is glass, a value of
the "scratch test by pencil" for the hard coat layer is most
preferable to be more than the "H" grade. If the test value is less
than the "H" grade, dust caused by scraping the hard coat layer is
remarkably generated. Consequently, an error rate is deteriorated
abruptly.
[0118] Further, a thickness of the hard coat layer is desirable to
be more than 0.001 mm in consideration of shock resistance, more
desirable to be less than 0.01 mm in consideration of warp of an
information recording medium in total. With respect to a coating
method of the hard coat layer, such a method as spin coat, splay,
dip, blade coat, roll coat, knife coating, screen printing and
offset printing can be used.
[0119] With respect to other materials for the hard coat layer, an
element having a light transparency of more than 70% for a light
beam having a wavelength .lamda. and having a value of the "scratch
test by pencil" of more than the "H" grade such as carbon,
molybdenum and silicon, and their alloy (including composition such
as oxide, nitride, carbide, sulfide and fluoride) can be used (its
film thickness is within a range of 1 to 1000 nm). With respect to
a forming method of the hard coat layer, such methods as vacuum
deposition of resister heating type or electron beam type, direct
current sputtering, high frequency sputtering, reactive sputtering,
ion beam sputtering, ion plating and chemical vapor deposition
(CVD) can be used.
[0120] With respect to an actual material for the lubricative
layer, lubricant of which surface energy is adjusted by modifying
hydrocarbon macromolecule with silicon and fluorine can be used.
Further, a thickness of the lubricative layer is desirable to be
within a range of 0.1 to 10 nm approximately. With respect to a
coating method of the lubricative layer, such a method as spin
coat, splay, dip, blade coat, roll coat, knife coating, screen
printing and offset printing can be used.
[0121] A label printing can be performed on the surface of the
substrate 13 although not shown in any drawings. Various energy ray
curable resins containing pigment and dye (such as UV ray curable
resin, visible light curable resin and electron beam curable resin)
can be used suitably for the label printing. A thickness of the
label printing is preferable to be more than 0.001 mm in
consideration of visibility of the printing, more preferable to be
less than 0.05 mm in consideration of warp of the information
recording mediums 1 through 4 in total. With respect to a printing
method, such a method as screen printing and offset printing can be
used.
[0122] In order to improve easier loading of the information
recording mediums 1 through 4 into a reproducing apparatus and
protectiveness based on handling them, a constitution containing
the information recording medium in a cartridge can be
considered.
[0123] Further, in a case that the information recording mediums 1
through 4 are in a disc shape, its dimensions are not limited.
Various sizes, for example, 20 to 400 mm in diameter can be
acceptable, in any diameter such as 32, 41, 51, 60, 65, 80, 88,
120, 130, 200, 300 and 356 can also be acceptable.
[0124] In order to improve a recording characteristic and
reproduction characteristic, the recording layer 12 can be composed
of a plurality of thin film materials. Such a recording layer
composed of a plurality of thin film materials will be detailed in
the following embodiment.
Fifth Embodiment
[0125] With referring to FIG. 8, an information recording medium of
which recording layer is composed of four layers of thin film
materials according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention
is explained.
[0126] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view in partially enlarged of an
information recording medium according to a fifth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0127] In FIG. 8, a same composition as that of the first
embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is indicated by a same sign as that of
the first embodiment and its explanation is omitted.
[0128] As shown in FIG. 8, an information recording medium 5 is
composed of a reflective layer 121, a first protective layer 122, a
recording layer 123, a second reflective layer 124 and a light
transmission layer 11, which are laminated on a substrate 13 having
a microscopic pattern 20 in order.
[0129] With respect to a material of the reflective layer 121,
there is provided a metal having a light reflectiveness such as Al,
Au and Ag, an alloy containing the metal as a main component and an
additive element such as more than one kind of metal or
semiconductor and a mixture of a metal such as Al, Au and Ag with a
metal compound such as metal nitride, metal oxide and metal
chalcogenide. A metal such as Al, Au and Ag and an alloy containing
the metal as a main component are high in reflectiveness and
thermal conductivity. Therefore, such a metal and alloy are
preferable to be used.
[0130] Further, the reflective layer 121 has a role of optimizing
thermal conduction while recording onto the recording layer 123.
Therefore, it can be called a heat sink layer.
[0131] With respect to the alloy mentioned above, there is provided
an alloy of adding at least one element out of Si, Mg, Cu, Pd, Ti,
Cr, Hf, Ta, Nb, Mn, Zr and Rh as an additive element to Al or Ag
within a range of more than 1 atomic % and less than 5 atomic % in
total or another alloy of adding at least one element out of Cr,
Ag, Cu, Pd, Pt and Ni to Au within a range of more than 1 atomic %
and less than 20 atomic %. Particularly, the reflective layer 121
is desirable to be constituted by any of Al--Cr alloy, Al--Ti
alloy, Al--Ta alloy, Al--Zr alloy, Al--Ti--Cr alloy or Al--Si--Mn
alloy, which contains Al as a main component and an additive
element controlled within a range of more than 0.5 atomic % and not
more than 3 atomic % in total, because they are excellent in
corrosion resistance and improve repetition ability.
[0132] With respect to an additive element, adding a metal or a
semiconductor is more preferable than a metal alone, because a
crystalline particle becomes smaller and a noise level decreases
when reproducing. Further, adding an additive is better so as to
improve stability in an ambience of high temperature and high
humidity.
[0133] Such an additive is an alloy such as Al--Ti, Al--Cr, Al--Zr,
Al--Si, Ag--Pd--Cu and Ag--Rh--Cu. In a case of using a blue
semiconductor laser having a wavelength of approximately 400 nm,
using an alloy such as Al-system and Ag-system can obtain higher
reflectivity. With respect to a thickness of the reflective layer
121, it is more than 10 nm and less than 300 nm.
[0134] The film thickness of the reflective layer 121 varies by a
thermal conductivity of a metal or an alloy constituting the
reflective layer 121. In a case of an Al--Cr alloy, for example,
thermal conductivity decreases in response to increasing content of
Cr. Therefore, it does not conform to a recording strategy unless
the film thickness of reflective layer 121 is thickened. In a case
of increasing content of Cr, the recording layer 123 becomes easy
to be heated and hard to be cooled, that is so called, to be a
gradually cooling structure. In order to control forming a record
mark by the recording strategy, some idea such as shortening a head
pulse, shortening multi-pulse or extending a cooling pulse is
required.
[0135] If a thickness of the reflective layer 121 exceeds 50 nm,
the reflective layer 121 does not change optically and does not
affect a value of reflectivity. However, affection to a cooling
speed becomes larger. Since it takes more time to manufacture the
thicker reflection layer 121 having a thickness of more than 300
nm, the film thickness of reflection layer 121 must be controlled,
if possible, by using a material having a higher thermal
conductivity.
[0136] If the reflective layer 121 is divided into two layers or
more, a noise level can be reduced when reproducing the information
recording medium 5. Such a recording layer is formed, for example,
as follows:
[0137] By using a single disc sputtering system, which forms each
film on each layer in a plurality of vacuum chambers, in a case of
forming the reflective layer 121 having a thickness of 150 nm in
total by transporting the substrate 13 one by one, a first
reflective layer is formed in a first vacuum chamber at a filming
speed of 2 nm/s, and then second and third reflective layers are
formed by second and third vacuum chambers respectively at a
filming speed of 6.5 nm/s. Consequently, discs can be filmed one
after another in a short period of time as long as 10 seconds. A
crystalline particle can be made finer by changing a filming speed,
so that a noise level can be reduced when reproducing the
information recording medium 5.
[0138] The first protective layer 122 and the second protective
layer 124 have an effect of protecting the substrate 13 and the
recording layer 123 from excessive heat, preventing the substrate
13 and the recording layer 123 from deformation by the heat and
preventing a recording characteristic from being deteriorated.
Consequently, the first and second protective layers 122 and 124
have an effect of improving a signal contrast by an optical
interference effect while reproducing.
[0139] These protective layers 122 and 124 are transparent at a
wavelength of a light beam for recording and reproducing and its
refractive index "n" is within a range of
1.9.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.2.5.
[0140] The first protective layer 122 and the second protective
layer 124 are not required to be a same material and composition.
It is acceptable to be constituted by different materials. A
thickness of the second protective layer 122 decides a wavelength
exhibiting a minimum value of spectral reflectance.
[0141] Further, the first protective layer 122 and the second
protective layer 124 have a further effect of activating
crystallization of a recording layer and increasing an erase ratio.
With respect to a material of these first and second protective
layers 122 and 124, there is existed an inorganic thin film such as
ZnS, SiO.sub.2, silicon nitride and aluminium oxide.
[0142] Particularly, a thin film of oxidized metal or semiconductor
such as Si, Ge, Al, Ti, Zr and Ta, a thin film of nitride metal or
semiconductor such as Si, Ge and Al, a thin film of carbide metal
or semiconductor such as Ti, Zr, Hf and Si, a thin film of sulfide
metal or semiconductor such as ZnS, In.sub.2S.sub.3, TaS.sub.4 and
GeS.sub.2 and a film of a mixture containing more than two
compounds out of the above-mentioned compounds such as oxide,
nitride, carbide and sulfide are desirable for the first and second
protective layers 122 and 124 because they are high in heat
resistance and chemically stable.
[0143] Furthermore, with respect to a material of the first and
second protective layers 122 and 124, it is desirable that the
material does not diffuse into the recording layer 121. These
compounds of oxide, sulfide, nitride and carbide are not necessary
to be a stoichiometrical composition. Controlling a composition and
using them by mixing are also effective for controlling a
refractive index. By changing a content amount of oxygen, sulfur,
nitrogen and carbon, a refractive index "n" is controlled. If a
content amount of them increases, a refractive index decreases.
[0144] A mixture film of ZnS and SiO.sub.2 is particularly
desirable for a material of the first and second protective layers
122 and 124, because recording sensitivity and C/N (carrier to
noise ratio) are hard to be deteriorated by a plurality of
repetition of recording and reproducing. A thickness of the first
protective layer 122 and the second protective layer 124 are within
a range of 10 to 500 nm respectively. The thickness of the first
protective layer 122 is desirable to be within a range of 10 to 50
nm so as to be excellent in a recording characteristic such as C/N
and erase ratio and to be rewritable stably a plurality of
times.
[0145] If a thickness of the first protective layer 122 is thinner,
a reflectivity increases and a recording sensitivity decreases.
Further, a space between the first protective layer 122 and the
reflective layer 121 becomes narrower and the first protective
layer 122 becomes a rapid cooling construction, so that a
relatively large recording power is necessary to forming a record
mark. On the contrary, if the thickness of first protective layer
122 becomes thicker, the space between the first protective layer
122 and the reflective layer 121 becomes wider and the first
protective layer 122 becomes a gradually cooling structure.
Consequently, a rewriting performance is deteriorated and a
repetition number of overwriting decreases.
[0146] A film thickness of the first protective layer 122 is
thinner than that of the second protective layer 124, the first
protective layer 122 becomes a rapid cooling structure. In order to
relief thermal damage, a film thickness of the first protective
layer 122 is desirable to be within a range of 2 to 50 nm. Further,
it is preferable that a filming speed of the first protective layer
122 must be slower than that of the second protective layer 124.
Consequently, increasing of jitter by rewriting is suppressed and a
number of rewriting increases.
[0147] With respect to a material of the recording layer 123, the
same phase change material as that of the recording layer 12 of the
first through fourth embodiment can be used. A film thickness of
the recording layer 123 is within a range of 5 to 100 nm,
desirably, 10 to 30 nm in order to increase a reproduced signal.
The same material as the first protective layer 122 is used for the
second protective layer 124. A thickness of the second protective
layer 124 is within a range of 10 to 200 nm. The thickness of the
second protective layer 124 is desirable to be within a range of 40
to 150 nm in order to increase a reproduced signal although an
optimum film thickness varies by a wavelength of a light source to
be used. In a case that a laser beam for recording is blue (having
a wavelength of 400 nm approximately), a modulated amplitude can be
increased if the film thickness of the second protective layer 124
is set to be 40 to 60 nm.
[0148] As mentioned above, according to an aspect of the fifth
embodiment of the present invention, recording and reproducing
characteristics of the information recording medium 5 can be
improved in addition to the effects according to the first through
fourth embodiment.
[0149] The laminated structure of the protection layers can be
applied to the information recording mediums 2 though 4 as well as
the information recording medium 1. Further, in order to improve
the recording and reproducing characteristics more, an auxiliary
thin film can be formed on each layer or between layers.
[0150] As mentioned above, according to the first through fifth
embodiment of the present invention, recording in either the groove
section G or the land section L can decrease the cross erase.
[0151] Furthermore, for a point of view of signal quality, the
information recording medium 5 of the present invention is studied
that either of the groove section G and the land section L is more
suitable to be recorded. Consequently, it is found that an error
rate is low and a rewriting characteristic is excellent when
recorded in the land section L.
[0152] In consideration of the allocation of the land section L,
which is allocated in a closer side to the light transmission layer
11 than the groove section G, and a reproduction light, which
enters in from the light transmission layer 11, it is understood
that the area of the land section L has a nature of ideally
recording a record mark in a uniform shape as well as can easily
accumulate heat in a material of the land section L and becomes
higher sensitivity. (On the other hand, in a case of recording in
the groove section G, heat is easily radiated. Therefore, it is
understood that an ideal recording can hardly be performed.)
[0153] A modulation pattern for embedding an auxiliary information
(sub information) such as address data in analog or digital with
respect to the information recording medium 1 according to the
present invention is detailed next.
[0154] The auxiliary information (sub information) is recorded in a
form of wobbled pattern by the method of amplitude modulation (AM),
frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM) as mentioned
above. In other words, the auxiliary information is directly
recorded (on the substrate 13 or the light transmission layer 11
and formed in a shape of groove) as a wobbling pattern. Therefore,
the auxiliary information is a permanent information being disabled
to rewrite.
[0155] In a case that the information recording medium 1 is in a
disc shape, the auxiliary information is recorded in a wobbling
form with respect to a groove, which extends to the tangential
direction of the disc. Consequently, the wobbling direction is the
radial direction of the disc.
[0156] An address data, which is one of the auxiliary information
(sub information) to be recorded in the present invention, is a
date selected out of an absolute address, which is assigned to
whole the information recording medium 1, a relative address, which
is assigned to a partial area, a track number, a sector number, a
frame umber, a field number, a time information and a error
correction code. It is a data, which is converted from a data
described in the decimal notation or the hexadecimal notation, for
example, to the binary notation (including the BCD code and gray
code).
[0157] Further, an auxiliary information other than an address data
can also be handled. Such an auxiliary information is a specific
code data, which is at least selected out from information and data
such as, for example, a type of information recording medium, a
size of the information recording medium, an ideal recording
capacity of the information recording medium, an ideal linear
recording density of the information recording medium, an ideal
linear velocity of the information recording medium, a track pitch
of the information recording medium, a recording strategy
information, a reproducing power information, a manufacturer
information, a manufacturing number, a lot number, a control
number, a copyright related information, a key for producing a
cipher, a deciphering key, a ciphered data, a recording permission
code, a recording refusal code, a reproduction permission code and
a reproduction refusal code. It is also acceptable that these data
are accompanied by an error correction code.
[0158] In order to simplify explanation, hereinafter it is
explained with assuming that an auxiliary information (sub
information) is an address.
[0159] FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of an address 250 recorded
by the amplitude modulation (AM) method in an information recording
medium according to the present invention. The address 250 is
recorded in shape partially or totally onto either the groove
section G or the land section L, which constitutes the microscopic
pattern 20. In the AM method, a data "1" or "0" is recorded in
accordance with an amplitude whether or not it is existed. In a
case of FIG. 9, a data "1" is recorded as a section 251 having
amplitude and another data "0" as another section 252 having no
amplitude.
[0160] In a case that an address "10110", for example, is recorded,
as shown in FIG. 9, the section 251, the other section 252, the
section 251, the section 251 and the other section 252 are
sequentially recorded in shape. Such a recording method of data in
response to amplitude whether or not it is existed is advantageous
to be able to demodulate even in a deteriorated C/N circumstance
because the AM method is a simple signal format system.
Particularly, affection of crosstalk from an adjacent track can be
minimized. Consequently, the AM method is an effective address
recording method for the information recording medium 1 according
to the present invention reducing the pitch P more than the spot
diameter S of a light beam for reproduction.
[0161] Each duration of the section 251 and the other section 252
is acceptable to be either the same duration or not. However, the
duration is desirable to be the same in order to make an error rate
of demodulation the best. Further, a number of waves constituting
the section 251 is not limited to one specific number. The number
must be plural in order to eliminate a readout error, and a number
being not redundant is suitable for the number of waves so as not
to decrease a recording density of address recording. From the
point of view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the number of
waves is desirable to be 2 to 10 approximately. Furthermore, each
amplitude of a plurality of the sections 251 can be different from
each other. However, it is desirable to be the same in
consideration of easier setting of a slice level when
demodulating.
[0162] In a case that an extra area recorded with a single
frequency for clock other than the address 250 is provided, it is
not concerned whether or not the single frequency is the same as a
frequency of the section 251. However, if it is the same frequency,
a physical length used for extracting clock can be extended
slightly. Consequently, the same frequency is advantageous for
stable extraction of clock to be easier.
[0163] FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of an address 300 recorded
in an information recording medium according to the present
invention by the frequency modulation (FM) method. The address 300
is recorded in shape partially or totally onto either the groove
section G or the land section L, which constitutes the microscopic
pattern 20. In the FM method, a data "1" or "0" is recorded in
accordance with a frequency whether it is higher or lower. In a
case of FIG. 10, a data "1" is recorded as a section 301 having a
higher frequency and another data "0" as another section 302 having
a lower frequency.
[0164] In a case that an address "10110", for example, is recorded,
as shown in FIG. 10, the section 301, the other section 302, the
section 301, the section 301 and the other section 302 are
sequentially recorded in shape.
[0165] Such a recording method of data in response to a frequency
whether it is higher or lower is advantageous to be able to
demodulate by a simplified circuitry. Particularly, as shown in
FIG. 10, by selecting a proper phase, which is suitable for two
waves to be connected continuously at a point where their
frequencies change over, a reproduction envelope becomes
approximately constant and stable address extraction can be
realized. Each duration of the section 301 and the other section
302 is acceptable to be either the same duration or not. However,
the duration is desirable to be the same in order to make an error
rate of demodulation the best.
[0166] A number of waves constituting the section 301 and the other
section 302 is arbitrary. Further, each amplitude of the section
301 and the other section 302 can be different from each other.
However, it is desirable to be the same amplitude in consideration
of easier demodulation. Furthermore, selecting a frequency of the
section 301 and the other section 302 is arbitrary. However, it is
desirable to assign the two frequencies of which phase difference
is within a range of .+-..pi./12 to .+-..pi./0.75. Particularly, in
a case that a frequency ratio (of higher frequency to lower
frequency) is assigned to be 1.5 as shown in FIG. 10, the two
frequencies are related to that a phase of each wave is shifted by
-.pi./2.5 and +.pi./2.5 respectively. These two frequencies can be
expressed in integral multiples (triple and twice hereat) of a
single frequency (0.5 hereat). Consequently, there is existed an
advantage of constituting a demodulation circuit simply. Moreover,
a demodulation can be performed by the synchronous detection
method, so that an error rate can be reduced remarkably.
[0167] In a case that a frequency ratio (of higher frequency to
lower frequency) is assigned to be 1.28 as another example, the two
frequencies are related to such that a phase of each wave is
shifted by -.pi./4 and +.pi./4 respectively. Consequently, in this
case, a demodulation can also be performed by the synchronous
detection method, so that an error rate can be reduced
remarkably.
[0168] In a case that an extra area recorded with a single
frequency for clock other than the address 300 is provided, it is
acceptable that the single frequency and frequencies of the section
301 and the other section 302 are different frequencies from each
other. However, a physical length used for extracting clock can be
extended slightly if either frequency of the section 301 and the
other section 302 is the same as that of the single frequency.
Consequently, the same frequency is advantageous for stable
extraction of clock to be easier.
[0169] FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view of a first phase modulation
(PM) address 400 recorded in an information recording medium
according to the present invention. The first PM address 400 is
recorded in shape partially or totally onto either the groove
section G or the land section L, which constitutes the microscopic
pattern 20. In the PM method, a data "1" or "0" is recorded in
accordance with a phase difference. In the case of FIG. 11, a data
"1" is recorded as a "sine 0" section 401 and another data "0" as a
"sine .pi." section 402. Further, in a case that an address
"10110", for example, is recorded, as shown in FIG. 11, the "sine
.pi." section 401, the "sine .pi." section 402, the "sine 0"
section 401, the "sine 0" section 401 and the "sine .pi." section
402 are sequentially recorded in shape.
[0170] Such a recording method of data in response to a phase
difference is advantageous to be able to reproduce by demodulating
by the synchronous detection method even in a deteriorated C/N
circumstance. Each duration of the "sine 0" section 401 and the
"sine .pi." section 402 is acceptable to be either the same
duration or not. However, the duration is desirable to be the same
in order to make an error rate of demodulation the best. Further,
each amplitude of the "sine 0" section 401 and the "sine .pi."
section 402 can be different from each other. However, it is
desirable to be the same amplitude in consideration of easier
demodulation.
[0171] Furthermore, a phase difference between two data is assigned
to be .pi. and the two data are recorded in two values of "0" and
.pi.. However, it is not limited to "0" and .pi.. For example, with
assigning that a phase difference is .pi./2, it is acceptable to be
recorded in four values of -3.pi./4, -.pi./4, +.pi./4 and
+3.pi./4.
[0172] In a case that an extra area recorded with a single
frequency for clock other than the first PM address 400 is
provided, it is acceptable that the single frequency and a
frequency of either the "sine 0" section 401 or the "sine .pi."
section 402 are different from each other. However, a physical
length used for extracting clock can be extended slightly if these
frequencies coincide with each other. Consequently, the same
frequency is advantageous for stable extraction of clock to be
easier.
[0173] Further, the single frequency for clock can be recorded by
superimposing on the first PM address 400. In other words, an
integral multiples (including one) or one over integral multiples
of frequency can be superimposed on a PM address. In a case of
superimposing a clock frequency as mentioned above, frequencies can
be separated by using a commonly known band pass filter. However,
it is desirable that frequency difference between the first PM
address 400 and a clock frequency is larger. For example, with
assuming that a frequency of the first PM address 400 is "1" and a
clock frequency is 1/2, these frequencies are ideally separated and
both address and clock can be extracted stably.
[0174] FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of a second phase
modulation (PM) address 450 recorded by the PM method. A shape is
recorded in either the groove section G or the land section L
constituting the microscopic pattern 20. In this method, a wave is
regarded as an asymmetrical shape of rising and falling. Phase
difference is expressed by controlling each wave individually. That
is, in a case of FIG. 12, the data "1" is recorded as a section 451
of which a wave rises gradually and falls rapidly (hereinafter
referred to as a rapidly falling section 451), and the data "0" as
a section 452, which rises rapidly and falls gradually (hereinafter
referred to as a rapidly rising section 452).
[0175] In a case that an address "10110", for example, is recorded,
as shown in FIG. 12, the rapidly falling section 451, the rapidly
rising section 452, the rapidly falling section 451, the rapidly
falling section 451 and the rapidly rising section 452 are
sequentially recorded in shape.
[0176] Such a recording method of data in response to a phase
difference is advantageous to be able to demodulate by inputting
into a wide-band filter and extracting a differential component
even in a deteriorated C/N circumstance. Each duration of the
rapidly falling section 451 and the rapidly rising section 452 is
acceptable to be either the same duration or not. However, the
duration is desirable to be the same in order to make an error rate
of demodulation the best.
[0177] Each amplitude of the rapidly falling section 451 and the
rapidly rising section 452 can be different from each other.
However, it is desirable to be the same amplitude in consideration
of easier demodulation. Further, in a case that an extra area
recorded with a single frequency for clock other than the second PM
address 450 is provided, it is acceptable that the single frequency
and a frequency of either the rapidly falling section 451 or the
rapidly rising section 452 are different from each other. However,
a physical length used for extracting clock can be extended
slightly if these frequencies coincide with each other.
Consequently, the same frequency is advantageous for stable
extraction of clock to be easier.
[0178] In the explanation of recording methods by the AM, FM and PM
heretofore, it is explained by using the recording method, which
records an address data itself as a shape of wobbling groove
directly. Further, a fundamental wave of wobbling groove is on the
assumption of a sinusoidal shape. However, the shape according to
the present invention is not limited to the sinusoidal shape. For
example, it is apparent that the same effect is recognized by using
a cosine shape for the fundamental wave of wobbling groove.
[0179] An address data can also be recorded in multiple recording
and time sharing recording by a different modulation method. For
example, it can be recorded by synthesizing different methods such
as AM+FM, AM+PM and FM+PM. Further, it can be recorded by a time
sharing recording method such as recording for a period of time by
the AM and for another period of time by the FM, recording for a
period of time by the AM and for another period of time by the PM
or recording for a period of time by the FM and for another period
of time by the PM. As mentioned above, it is also acceptable that a
single frequency area for extracting a clock is recorded for a
certain period of time being different from the period for
recording the address data as a time sharing recording method in
addition to the time sharing recording of the address data.
[0180] With respect to an amplitude of wobbling groove, by
assigning a deflection amplitude by wobbling s as to be less than
the pitch P, excellent reproduction of address can be realized.
Actually, an address, which does not contact with an adjacent track
physically, can be recorded by assigning amplitude by wobbling to
be less than the pitch P, so that crosstalk caused by recording can
be eliminated.
[0181] By attempting such that writing a random data by the phase
change recording in a groove, which is recorded with an address
with assigning such a wobble amplitude to be less than the pitch P,
and then reproducing the address by the push-pull method, it is
found that a wobble amplitude (peak to peak) is more than 2% of the
spot diameter S of light beam for reproduction as a limit possible
to detect the address signal. Further, it is found that a random
data caused by the phase change recording is remarkably
superimposed as a noise and an address error rate increases
suddenly with respect to a groove formed such that the wobble
amplitude is less than 2% of the spot diameter S.
[0182] On the other hand, in a case that the wobble amplitude is
more than 9% of the spot diameter S, crosstalk from an adjacent
track is remarkably superimposed on a push-pull signal and an
address error rate increases suddenly. Consequently, a wobble
amplitude is essential to be less than the pitch P. Further, it is
most suitable for the wobble amplitude to be within a range of 2 to
9% of the spot diameter S of light beam for reproduction.
[0183] In the present invention, the recording method is not
limited to the direct recording. In a case of recording a long
array of address data, it is possible that a plurality of "0"s or a
plurality of "1"s is arranged sequentially and a direct current
component is generated in the data by the direct recording
method.
[0184] In order to eliminate such possibility, it is acceptable to
perform a method such that the data is previously modulated by the
base-band modulation and recorded. In other words, the method is
that replace "0" and "1" with another code previously and reduce a
sequence of "0"s and "1"s to a certain number or less. With respect
to such a method, the method such as Manchester code, PE (phase
encoding) modulation, MFM (modified frequency modulation), M2
(Miller squared) modulation, NRZI (non return to zero inverted)
modulation, NRZ (non return to zero) modulation, RZ (return to
zero) modulation and differential modulation can be used alone or
by combining some of them.
[0185] FIG. 13 is a table exhibiting a change of fundamental data
of before and after a base-band modulation.
[0186] With respect to a base-band modulation method, which is most
suitable for the information recording medium 1 of the present
invention, it is the Manchester code (biphase modulation) method.
The Manchester code method is a method of applying 2 bits to each
one bit of data to be recorded as shown in FIG. 13. That is, "00"
or "11" is assigned to a data "0" to be recorded, and "01" or "10"
to a data "1". Further, an inverted code of inverting a last code
of preceding data is essentially applied to a head code of
succeeding data when arranging the succeeding data after the
preceding data.
[0187] FIG. 14 is a table of definite example exhibiting a change
of data array of before and after a base-band modulation. As shown
in FIG. 14, an address data "100001" is assigned to be a code array
of "010011001101". The original address data contains a sequence of
four "0"s. Further, the original address data is an asymmetrical
data that an appearing probability of "0" is twice that of "1". If
such an asymmetrical data is modulated, a sequence of "0" or "1" is
two maximally and the original data is converted into a symmetrical
data having equal appearing probability of "0" and "1". As
mentioned above, the base-band modulation, which restricts a
sequence of same bits within a certain quantity, is effective to
increase stability of reading out a data. Consequently, the
base-band modulation method is suitable for pre-treatment for a
long address data.
[0188] Further, there is existed another method of highly analyzing
an address data and recording it in dispersion. For example, in
combination with a dummy data "10", it is a recording method such
that an address data is recorded as a data array of "10X", wherein
"X" is either "0" or "1", and the data array is allocated at every
certain interval. If the "X" is extracted by using the dummy data
"10" as a data trigger, the original data can be restored. This
method is effective for a format, which can be read a data array to
be treated with taking a long period of time.
[0189] With respect to another example of the dispersion recording,
there is existed a method such that a first specific data pattern
("101", for example), which is easy to read, is allocated
(recorded) at every certain interval, and then a second specific
data pattern ("1111", for example), which is easy to read, is
allocated between the first specific data patterns. A position of
allocating the second specific pattern is advanced to a
predetermined distance (time) with respect to the first specific
pattern. The second specific pattern is recorded as a data "1" if
the other second specific patter is existed at the position. If the
other second specific patter is not existed at the position, a data
"0" is recorded there.
[0190] When reading a data, with paying attention to a
predetermined position, the second specific pattern can be read out
whether or not it is existed. By following such a method, a
recorded address data can be read out. Further, by assigning two
positions of allocating the second specific pattern previously,
which are advanced to a predetermined distance (time) with respect
to the first specific pattern, a data "1" or "0" can be recorded at
either position, where the second specific patter exists.
[0191] The dispersion recording method by using a difference in
distance between the first specific pattern and the second specific
pattern is explained above. However, in a case that a pattern
having extremely high accuracy in readout can be provided for a
specific pattern, the first specific pattern and the second
specific pattern are acceptable to be identical with each other.
With respect to a specific pattern recorded by a certain period of
time interval, it is acceptable that the data "1" and the data "0"
are identified by extracting another specific pattern having a
shorter time interval than the specific pattern and measuring the
time interval.
[0192] The recording of an auxiliary information (sub information)
composed of an address information and a specific code data by
wobbling groove is explained hereinbefore. Although it is repeated
once again, the recording explained herein is recording in shape by
wobbling of a groove (the groove section G or the land section L)
not recording onto the recording layer 12. The recording in shape
by wobbling groove of the auxiliary information and the clock
information (single frequency for extracting clock) mentioned above
is a permanent information, which can not be altered and is high in
concealment. Such recording can be performed by applying a method
of forming a record accompanying shape change on the substrate 13
or the light transmission layer 11.
[0193] The forming a record is realized by using a stamper recorded
with wobbling groove. The stamper itself is manufactured by the
so-called mastering method for forming a wobbling pattern by using
an energy ray.
[0194] In the meantime, as mentioned above, recording onto the
recording layer 12 (phase change recording, for example) is applied
to the groove section G or the land section L. When recording onto
the recording layer 12, the recording is performed with referring
to an auxiliary information and a clock information recorded by
wobbling groove (for example, recording with reading an address).
Therefore, a track applied for recording must coincide with another
track recorded in shape with an auxiliary information and a clock
information.
[0195] For example, if a track applied for recording is the land
section L, another track recorded in shape with the auxiliary
information and the clock information must be the land section L.
If they are different from each other, the auxiliary and clock
information are extracted with mixing with 50% each of information
recorded in adjacent two tracks, so that accurate auxiliary
information and clock information can not be extracted, although
recording onto the recording layer 12 can be physically performed
without any problem.
[0196] In another case, if a track applied for recording is the
land section L and another track recorded in shape with an
auxiliary information and a clock information is the groove section
G, recording onto the land section L in the recording layer 12 is
naturally performed. However, if the auxiliary information such as
an address and the clock information are extracted while recording,
an information recorded in two adjacent groove sections G, which
sandwich the land section L, is read out. Consequently, the
auxiliary and clock information are extracted with mixing with 50%
each of auxiliary information and clock information recorded in two
adjacent groove sections G different from the original groove
section G.
[0197] It is impossible to separate the mixed two information, so
that recording onto a track intended to be recorded can not be
performed. Accordingly, a track applied for recording is necessary
to coincide with another track recorded in shape with an auxiliary
information and a clock information.
[0198] As mentioned above, recording onto the recording layer 12 is
suitable to record on the land section L in a sense of decreasing
an error rate. Therefore, it is most desirable that a track
supplied for recording is the land section L and another track
recorded in groove shape with an auxiliary information and a clock
information is also the land section L.
[0199] With referring to FIG. 15, a first reproducing apparatus 40
utilized for reproducing the information recording mediums 1
through 5 is explained next.
[0200] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a first reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention.
[0201] In order to simplify an explanation, hereinafter the
information recording medium 1 represents the information recording
mediums 1 through 5 generically.
[0202] As shown in FIG. 15, a first reproducing apparatus 40 is at
least composed of a pickup 50 for reading out reflected light from
the information recording medium 1, a motor 51 for rotating the
information recording medium 1, a servo device 52 for controlling
to drive the pickup 50 and the motor 51, a turntable 53 for
supporting the information recording medium 1, a demodulator 54 for
demodulating an information signal read out by the pickup 50, an
interface (I/F) 55 for transmitting a signal demodulated by the
demodulator 54 externally and a controller 60 for controlling the
first reproducing apparatus 40 totally. The demodulator 54 is a
digital converter, which restores a 16-bit data to an original
8-bit data, in a case of the 8/16 modulation (Eight to Fifteen
Modulation Plus: EFM Plus) method utilized in the DVD system, for
example.
[0203] The turntable 53 and the information recording medium 1 are
connected with plugging a center hole Q of the information
recording medium 1 with the turntable 53. Such a connection between
the turntable 53 and the information recording medium 1 can be
either a fixed connection or semi-fixed connection, which can load
or release the information recording medium 1 freely. Further, the
information recording medium 1 can be installed in a cartridge.
With respect to a cartridge, a commonly known cartridge having an
opening and closing mechanism in the center can be used as it
is.
[0204] The motor 51 is linked to the turntable 53, supports the
information recording medium 1 through the turntable 53 and
supplies relative motion for reproduction to the information
recording medium 1. A signal output can be supplied to a not shown
external output terminal or directly supplied to a not shown
display device, audio equipment or printing equipment.
[0205] The pickup 50 is further composed of a light emitting
element 50a, which irradiates a light beam having a single
wavelength .lamda. within a range of 350 to 450 nm, desirably 400
to 435 nm, an objective lens 50b having a numerical aperture NA
within a range of 0.75 to 0.9 and a not shown photo detector, which
receives a reflected light reflected by the information recording
medium 1. Furthermore, the pickup 50 forms a reproducing light 70
in conjunction with these components.
[0206] It is acceptable that the light emitting element 50a is a
semiconductor laser of gallium nitride system compound or a laser
having a second harmonic generating element.
[0207] The servo device 52 is indicated just one in FIG. 15.
However, it can be divided into two; one is a driving control servo
for the pickup 50 and the other is another driving control servo
for the motor 51.
[0208] A commonly know equalizer and a PRML (partial response
maximum likelihood) decoding circuit, both are not shown, can be
installed in the demodulator 54. With respect to an equalizer
(waveform equalizer), for example, a so-called neural net equalizer
(such as disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 2797035) in which a
plurality of conversion systems having a nonlinear input-output
characteristic is combined together with applying individual
variable weighting and constitutes a neural network, a so-called
limit equalizer (such as disclosed in the Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open Publication No. 11-259985/1999) in which an
amplitude level of reproduced signal is limited to a predetermined
value and forwarded to a filtering process, and a so-called error
selection type equalizer (such as disclosed in the Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open Publication No. 2001-110146) in which an
error between a reproduced signal and an objective value for
waveform equalization is obtained and a frequency of waveform
equalizer is changed adaptively so as to minimize the error can be
preferably used.
[0209] Further, in the commonly known PRML decoding circuit
containing a predicted value controlling and equalization error
calculating circuit, a so-called adaptive viterbi decoder (such as
disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publications
No. 2000-228064 and No. 2001-186027) in which a predicted value
utilized for decoding viterbi algorithm is calculated and a
frequency response is optimized so as to minimize an equalization
error of waveform equalizer can be suitably used.
[0210] Operations of the first reproducing apparatus 40 are
explained next.
[0211] The reproducing light 70 emitted form the light emitting
element 50a of the pickup 50 is converged at the microscopic
pattern 20 in the information recording medium 1. Actually, the
reproducing light 70 is focused on the microscopic pattern 20,
which is allocated at a depth of 0.07 to 0.12 mm equivalent to a
thickness of the light transmission layer 11.
[0212] Succeedingly, tracking of the reproducing light 70 is
performed to either one of the groove section G or the land section
L. The tracking is performed with choosing a predetermined side.
However, as mentioned above, choosing the land section L is most
desirable. A recorded signal is read out by a light detector not
shown with receiving a reflected light from the microscopic pattern
20.
[0213] The light detector is divided into 4 sections. A total sum
signal (that is, Ia+Ib+Ic+Id) of output from all 4 sections of the
light detector is transmitted to the demodulator 54, wherein each
of Ia, Ib, Ic and Id corresponds to each output of a 4-division
light detector for a DVD disc defined by the JIS Standard No.
X6241: 1997. Reading out of the recorded signal is performed by
reproducing the record mark M recorded in the groove section G or
the land section L on the microscopic pattern 20.
[0214] It is omitted in the above explanation that a focus error
signal is necessary for focusing to be generated and a tracking
error signal is necessary for tracking to be generated. Such a
focus error signal and a tracking error signal are generated by a
differential signal (that is, "(Ia-Ib)-(Ic-Id)") of output from a
4-division light detector in the radial direction and transmitted
to the servo device 52.
[0215] In accordance with control by the controller 60, in the
servo device 52, a focus servo signal and a tracking servo signal
are generated from the received focus error signal and the tracking
error signal and transmitted to the pickup 50. In the meantime, a
rotary servo signal is generated in the servo device 52 and
transmitted to the motor 51.
[0216] Further, in the demodulator 54, the recorded signal is
demodulated and applied with error correction according to demand,
and an obtained data stream is transmitted to the I/F 55. Finally,
a signal is outputted externally in accordance with control by the
controller 60.
[0217] As mentioned above, the information recording medium 1 and
the first reproducing apparatus 40 according to the present
invention are designed for coping with the reproducing light 70,
which is produced by the light emitting element 50a having single
wavelength .lamda. within the range of 350 to 450 nm and the
objective lens 50b having the numerical aperture NA of 0.75 to 0.9.
Therefore, the first reproducing apparatus can preferably reproduce
the information recording medium 1.
[0218] With respect to the light emitting element 50a in the first
reproducing apparatus 40, it is defined that the light emitting
element 50a can be a semiconductor laser of gallium nitride system
compound or a laser having a second harmonic generating element.
However, these two different lasers have a characteristic laser
noise respectively, particularly, in a case of a semiconductor
laser of gallium nitride system compound, it is characterized by a
higher noise level.
[0219] According to an actual measurement, an RIN (relative
intensity noise) of a laser having a second harmonic generating
element is -134 dB/Hz. The noise level is almost equivalent to that
of a red semiconductor laser (.lamda.=650 nm approximately)
utilized for a DVD disc.
[0220] On the other hand, in a case of a semiconductor laser of
gallium nitride system compound, an RIN is -125 dB/Hz. The noise
level is larger than that of a laser having a second harmonic
generating element by 9 dB. The noise is added to a reproduced
signal from the information recording medium 1 and a S/N of the
reproduced signal is extremely deteriorated. In other words, if a
semiconductor laser of gallium nitride system compound is adopted
for the first reproducing apparatus 40, a signal characteristic is
deteriorated. Therefore, it signifies that a designing guide
obtained by a DVD disc can not be applied for the first reproducing
apparatus 40 with shifting the designing guide proportionally.
Consequently, in a case of the first reproducing apparatus 40
having a semiconductor laser of gallium nitride system compound, an
information recording medium having a signal characteristic of
compensating a deteriorated component is necessary to be provided
in consideration of being added with a noise inherent to a
laser.
[0221] With respect to the information recording medium 5 shown in
FIG. 8 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention,
a relationship between modulated amplitude and error rate is
examined by manufacturing various kinds of mediums with varying
material and thickness of the reflective layer 121, the first
protective layer 122, the recording layer 123 and the second
protective layer 124 and by reproducing the mediums by using the
first reproducing apparatus 40, which is installed with a
semiconductor laser of gallium nitride system compound (having a
RIN of -125 dB/Hz) for the light emitting element 50a. In addition
thereto, recording on the information recording medium 5 is
performed under a most ideal recording condition, which decreases
an error rate maximally.
[0222] Reproduced modulated amplitude is also called an output of
reproduced signal. In a case of a phase change recording material,
it is an index having correlation with reflectivity contrast
between crystal and amorphous. In more accurately, a modulation
signal so-called a (d, k) signal is recorded on the information
recording medium 5. A recording apparatus will be explained
later.
[0223] A fixed length code and a variable length code can be
applied for a (d, k) modulation signal. Such a (d, k) modulation as
(2, 10) modulation in a fixed length code, (1, 7) modulation in a
fixed length code, (1, 9) modulation in a fixed length code, (2, 7)
modulation in variable length code and (1, 7) modulation in the
variable length code can be suitably used.
[0224] Examples representing the (2, 10) modulation in a fixed
length code are the 8/15 modulation (such as disclosed in the
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2000-286709),
the 8/16 modulation (EFM plus) and the 8/17 modulation (EFM).
Further, an example representing the (1, 7) modulation in the fixed
length code is the "D1, 7" modulation (such as disclosed in the
Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-80205 in the name of Victor
company of Japan, Limited). Furthermore, an example representing
the (1, 9) modulation in the fixed length code is the "D4, 6"
modulation (such as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open Publication No. 2000-332613). Moreover, an example
representing the (1, 7) modulation in the variable length code is
the 17PP modulation (such as disclosed in the Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open Publication No. 11-346154/1999).
[0225] Modulated amplitude is obtained from a signal having a
maximal length used by a code by reproducing the information
recording medium 5 loaded flat (without declining) in the first
reproducing apparatus 40 and by connecting a reproduced signal in
the DC system outputted from the pickup 50 to an oscilloscope.
[0226] In the case of the 8/16 modulation used for a DVD disc, for
example, the maximal length is 14 T. By measuring an I14L and 114H
as specified by the specification (JIS Standard X6241: 1997),
modulated amplitude can be obtained by calculating
(I14H-I14L)/I14H.
[0227] Further, an error rate is obtained by measuring a reproduced
signal obtained through the demodulator 54. A result of obtaining
modulated amplitude and an error rate is shown in FIG. 16.
[0228] FIG. 16 is a graph exhibiting a relation between modulated
amplitude and error rate.
[0229] As shown in FIG. 16, there is existed a definite correlation
between modulated amplitude and error rate. It is apparent that an
error rate remarkably increases in accordance with decreasing
modulated amplitude. By assigning a practical error rate to
3.times.10.sup.-4 defined by a DVD disc or like, a necessary
modulated amplitude is more than 0.34.
[0230] Further, the information recording medium 5 warps by
temperature change or like in circumstances of utilization of the
information recording medium 5. Therefore, with assuming that a
declination of approximate 0.7 degree is possible to occur as a
same situation as a DVD disc, an error rate increases due to coma
aberration, which is complexly produced by a wavelength .lamda.
within a range of 350 to 450 nm, an NA within a range of 0.75 to
0.9 and a thickness of the light transmission layer 11 within a
range of 0.07 to 0.12 mm.
[0231] By the result of measurement, it is found that the error
rate of 3.times.10.sup.-4 at the declination of 0.7 degree is
equivalent to an error rate of 0.7.times.10.sup.-4 at the
declination of zero degree. In other words, the error rate of
0.7.times.31 10.sup.-4 is essential in consideration of a possible
declination when using the information recording medium 5
practically. Accordingly, it is understood that practical modulated
amplitude is more than 0.4.
[0232] As mentioned above, in the case that a semiconductor laser
of gallium nitride system compound is used for a light emitting
element, an error rate can be reduced to a practical level as low
as that of the DVD disc specification if modulated amplitude of the
information recording medium 5 is assigned to be more than 0.4 in
consideration of a noise being added to a reproduced signal.
Further, it is found by experiments that a correlation between
modulated amplitude and error rate such as shown in FIG. 16 can be
obtained as a similar result by applying any of the modulation
methods mentioned above.
[0233] A maximum mark length can vary by a modulation method.
However, a signal output almost saturates at more than 6 T by these
modulation methods and converges to a certain value. Consequently,
modulated amplitude obtained by recording the information recording
medium 1 by the 17PP modulation method, for example, and another
modulated amplitude obtained by the 8/16 modulation method become a
same value as each other. Modulated amplitude by the (1, 7) system
modulation method such as the "D1, 7" modulation method and the
17PP modulation method can be obtained by (I8H-I8L)/I8H because the
maximum mark length becomes 8 T.
[0234] Hereinafter, information recording mediums according to
embodiments 1 through 5 are more actually explained. In addition
thereto, samples of information recording mediums according to
comparative examples 1 through 3 are also manufactured in order to
compare.
Embodiment 1
[0235] Polycarbonate having a thickness of 1.1 mm is used for a
substrate 13 of a phase change type information recording medium 5.
Further, the information recording medium 5 is manufactured by
using materials such as AgPdCu for a reflective layer 121,
ZnSSiO.sub.2 for a first protective layer 122, AgInSbTe for a
recording layer 123, ZnSSiO.sub.2 for a second protective layer 124
and polycarbonate having a thickness of 0.10 mm for a light
transmission layer 11. An address data is recorded in a wobbling
shape on a land section L of the information recording medium 5 by
the frequency modulation method, wherein a phase having a phase
difference of +.pi./2.5 is selected so as for a wave to be
continuous at a point of changing a frequency. Furthermore, the
information recording medium 5 is designed with assuming that it is
recorded by using a light beam having a wavelength .lamda. of 405
nm and an objective lens having a numerical aperture NA of 0.85,
and a pitch P between land sections L is 0.32 .mu.m.
[0236] The information recording medium 5 is loaded into a
recording apparatus composed of a pickup having a wavelength
.lamda. of 405 nm and a numerical aperture NA of 0.85, and a
recording signal is recorded on a land section L by a modulated
signal, which is modulated by the I7PP modulation method, wherein a
minimum mark length (equivalent to 2 T) is 0.149 .mu.m.
[0237] The information recording medium 5 recorded with the
above-mentioned recording signal is loaded into the reproducing
apparatus 40 equipped with the pickup 50 having the wavelength
.lamda. of 405 nm and the numerical aperture NA of 0.85 shown in
FIG. 15. By reproducing a land section L of the information
recording medium 5, a signal having modulated amplitude, equivalent
to (I8H-I8L)/I8H, of 0.52 can be reproduced. Succeedingly, an error
rate of reproduced signal is obtained and resulted in an excellent
error rate of 2.times.10.sup.-5. Consequently, a data without any
practical problems can be extracted. Further, an address error rate
is about 1% at a recorded section, so that an address data can be
restored excellently.
[0238] In addition thereto, if an address error rate is less than
5% when reproducing after recorded on the recording layer 12, a
data including the least error can be restored through a process of
error correction. Accordingly, the address error rate of about 1%
is suitable for the information recording medium 5.
Embodiment 2
[0239] An information recording medium of an embodiment 2 is
identical to that of the embodiment 1 except for a modulation
method for recording a recording signal. The information recording
medium of the embodiment 2 is recorded with a recording signal
modulated by the "D4, 6" modulation method, wherein a minimum mark
length (equivalent to 2 T) is 0.154 .mu.m, and then reproduced as
the same processes as those of the embodiment 1.
[0240] By reproducing a land section L of the information recording
medium, a signal having modulated amplitude, equivalent to
(Il2H-I12L)/I12H, of 0.60 can be reproduced. Succeedingly, an error
rate of reproduced signal is obtained and resulted in an excellent
error rate of 8.times.10.sup.-6. Consequently, a data without any
practical problems can be extracted. Further, an address error rate
is about 1% at a recorded section, so that an address data can be
restored excellently.
Embodiment 3
[0241] An information recording medium of an embodiment 3 is
identical to that of the embodiment 1 except for a modulation
method for recording a recording signal. The information recording
medium of the embodiment 3 is recorded with a recording signal
modulated by the "D8-15" modulation method, wherein a minimum mark
length (equivalent to 3 T) is 0.185 .mu.m, and then reproduced as
the same processes as those of the embodiment 1.
[0242] By reproducing a land section L of the information recording
medium, a signal having modulated amplitude, equivalent to
(I12H-I12L)/I12H, of 0.63 can be reproduced. Succeedingly, an error
rate of reproduced signal is obtained and resulted in an excellent
error rate of 4.times.10.sup.-6. Consequently, a data without any
practical problems can be extracted. Further, an address error rate
is about 1% at a recorded section, so that an address data can be
restored excellently.
Embodiment 4
[0243] An information recording medium 5 of an embodiment 4 is
identical to that of the embodiment 1 except for a modulation
method for recording a recording signal. The information recording
medium 5 is recorded with an address data by the PM method shown in
FIG. 10 on a land section L in a wobbling shape. The information
recording medium 5 is recorded with a recording signal modulated by
the 17PP modulation method, wherein a minimum mark length
(equivalent to 2 T) is 0.149 .mu.m, and then reproduced as the same
processes as those of the embodiment 1. By reproducing a land
section L of the information recording medium, a signal having
modulated amplitude, equivalent to (I12H-I12L)/I12H, of 0.60 can be
reproduced. Succeedingly, an error rate of reproduced signal is
obtained and resulted in an excellent error rate of
2.times.10.sup.-6. Consequently, a data without any practical
problems can be extracted. Further, an address error rate is about
0.1% at a recorded section, so that an address data can be restored
excellently.
Embodiment 5
[0244] An information recording medium 5 of an embodiment 5 is
identical to that of the embodiment 1 except for a modulation
method for recording a recording signal. An address data is
recorded in a wobbling shape on a land section L of the information
recording medium 5 by the base-band modulation method by Manchester
code, wherein a phase having a phase difference of .+-..pi./2.5 is
selected so as for a wave to be continuous at a point of changing a
frequency. The information recording medium 5 is recorded with a
recording signal modulated by the "D4, 6" modulation method,
wherein a minimum mark length (equivalent to 2 T) is 0.154 .mu.m,
and then reproduced as the same processes as those of the
embodiment 1.
[0245] By reproducing a land section L of the information recording
medium, a signal having modulated amplitude, equivalent to
(I12H-I12L)/I12H, of 0.60 can be reproduced. Succeedingly, an error
rate of reproduced signal is obtained and resulted in an excellent
error rate of 8.times.10.sup.-6. Consequently, a data without any
practical problems can be extracted. Further, an address error rate
is about 0.1% at a recorded section, so that an address data can be
restored excellently.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1
[0246] By using the information recording medium 5 of the
embodiment 1, it is recorded and reproduced as the same manner as
those of the embodiment 1 except for recording on a groove section
G.
[0247] By reproducing the groove section G of the information
recording medium 5, a signal having modulated amplitude of 0.38 can
be reproduced. Succeedingly, an error rate of reproduced signal is
obtained and resulted in an error rate of 4.times.10.sup.-3.
Consequently, a data, which is too defective and has many bits
being impossible to correct, can be extracted. Further, an address
data is completely disordered. Therefore, the address data can not
be extracted.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2
[0248] An information recording medium 5 of a comparative example 2
is identical to that of the embodiment 1 except for a thick ness of
light transmission layer 11, which is assigned to be 0.06 mm. The
information recording medium 5 of the comparative example 2 is
recorded and reproduced as the same manners as those of the
embodiment 1.
[0249] By reproducing the information recording medium 5, a signal
having modulated amplitude of 0.46 can be reproduced. However, an
eye pattern is obscure. Succeedingly, an error rate of reproduced
signal is obtained and resulted in an error rate of
6.times.10.sup.-3. Consequently, a data, which is too defective and
has many bits being impossible to correct, can be extracted.
Further, the information recording medium 5 is easily scratched by
a test such that the objective lens 50b is forced to contact with
and to slide on the information recording medium 5. Accordingly,
the information recording medium 5 of the comparative example 2 is
unsuitable for an information recording medium essentially.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3
[0250] An information recording medium of a comparative example 3
is identical to that of the embodiment 1 except for a thick ness of
light transmission layer 11, which is assigned to be 0.13 mm. The
information recording medium of the comparative example 3 is
recorded and reproduced as the same manners as those of the
embodiment 1.
[0251] By reproducing the information recording medium, a signal
having modulated amplitude of 0.38 can be reproduced. However, an
eye pattern is obscure. Succeedingly, an error rate of reproduced
signal is obtained and resulted in an error rate of
9.times.10.sup.-3. Consequently, a data, which is too defective and
has many bits being impossible to correct, can be extracted.
Further, an address error rate is as many as 10% at a recorded
section. Consequently, only an address data, which is defective and
has many bits being impossible to correct, can be extracted.
[0252] The information recording medium of the present invention is
explained above with referring to the embodiments 1 through 5 and
the comparative examples 1 through 3. In the present invention,
modulated amplitude is assigned to be more than 0.4 in
consideration of that a reproduced signal is added with a noise
inherent to a laser when reproducing an information recording
medium 1. By this assignment, an information recording medium
having a signal characteristic, which is compensated for an
increased component of laser noise, is provided.
[0253] With respect to a second method of compensating an increased
component of noise inherent to a laser, there is existed a method
of regulating a reflectivity within a predetermined range. With
paying attention to each "reflectivity" of the information
recording mediums 1 though 5, result of a study of "relationship
between reflectivity and error rate" is explained hereafter.
[0254] With respect to the information recording medium 5 shown in
FIG. 8 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention,
several kinds of information recording mediums are manufactured by
varying a depth (height difference between a groove section G and a
land section L) of the microscopic pattern 20 formed on the
substrate 13. These information recording mediums are reproduced by
using the reproducing apparatus 40 composed of the light emitting
element 50a equipped with a semiconductor laser of gallium nitride
system compound (its RIN is -125 dB/Hz), and a relationship between
a reflectivity and an error rate is examined. Recording is
performed under an ideal recording condition for decreasing an
error rate minimally.
[0255] A reflectivity can be expressed as an output of reproduced
signal. In a case of a phase change material, it is an index
correlating to brightness of a crystalline state. Actually, the
information recording medium 5 is recorded with a modulated signal,
which is the so-called (d, k) code mentioned above. A recording
apparatus will be explained later.
[0256] Loading the information recording medium 5 into the
reproducing apparatus 40 in flat (without declination) and
reproducing it obtains a reflectivity from a signal having a
maximum length used for a code by connecting a reproduced signal in
a DC system outputted form the pickup 50 to an oscilloscope. In the
case of the 8/16 modulation method used for a DVD disc, for
example, the maximal length is 14 T. By measuring an I14H as
specified by the specification (JIS Standard X6241: 1997), a
reflectivity is calculated from an absolute reflectivity
calibration line.
[0257] Further, an error rate is obtained by measuring a reproduced
signal obtained through the demodulator 54.
[0258] The result is shown in FIG. 17.
[0259] FIG. 17 is a graph exhibiting a relation between a
reflectivity and an error rate.
[0260] As shown in FIG. 17, there is existed a distinct
relationship between a reflectivity and an error rate. It is
apparent that an error rate remarkably increases in accordance with
a reflectivity decreasing. If a practical error rate is assigned to
be 3.times.10.sup.-4, which is specified for a DVD disc, a
necessary reflectivity becomes more than 2%.
[0261] Further, the information recording medium 5 may warp by
temperature change or like in circumstances of utilization of the
information recording medium 5. Therefore, with assuming that a
declination of approximate 0.7 degree is possible to occur as a
same situation as a DVD disc, an error rate increases due to coma
aberration, which is complexly produced by a wavelength .lamda.
within a range of 350 to 450 nm, an NA within a range of 0.75 to
0.9 and a thickness of the light transmission layer 11 within a
range of 0.07 to 0.12 mm.
[0262] By the result of measurement, it is found that the error
rate of 3.times.10.sup.-4 at the declination of 0.7 degree is
equivalent to an error rate of 0.7.times.10.sup.-4 at the
declination of zero degree. In other words, the error rate of
0.7.times.10.sup.-4 is essential in consideration of a possible
declination when using the information recording medium 5
practically. Accordingly, it is understood that a practical
reflectivity is more than 5%.
[0263] As mentioned above, in the case that a semiconductor laser
of gallium nitride system compound is used for a light emitting
element, an error rate can be reduced to a practical level as low
as that of the DVD disc specification if a reflectivity of the
information recording medium 5 is assigned to be more than 5% in
consideration of a noise being added to a reproduced signal.
Further, it is found by experiments that a correlation between
reflectivity and error rate such as shown in FIG. 17 can be
obtained as a similar result by using any of the modulation methods
mentioned above.
[0264] A maximum mark length can vary by a modulation method.
However, a signal output almost saturates at more than 6 T by these
modulation methods and converges to a certain value. Consequently,
a reflectivity obtained by recording the information recording
medium 1 by the 17PP modulation method, for example, and another
reflectivity obtained by the 8/16 modulation method become a same
value as each other.
[0265] In consideration of a reproduction characteristic of
information recording medium, the information recording mediums 1
through 5 of which reflectivity is assigned to be more than 5%
according to the present invention are explained hereinbefore.
[0266] In consideration of general characteristics of a recording
apparatus and a reproducing apparatus, which are equipped with a
semiconductor laser of gallium nitride system compound as a light
emitting element, and physical characteristics of the recording
layer 12 or 123 composed of a phase change material totally, a
practical range of reflectivity necessary for realizing a total
system is explained next.
[0267] An output of a semiconductor laser of gallium nitride system
compound is 30 mW maximally. Generally, an output of light emitting
element falls down to almost one fifth of original output of the
light emitting element inside a recording apparatus due to a
coupling efficiency of optical element, which is used for a
wavelength .lamda. being within a range of 350 to 450 nm. In other
words, a laser power becomes 6 mW on each surface of the
information recording mediums 1 through 5 even though a laser
having an output of 30 mW is used. On the contrarily, it is
desirable that a recording power is assigned to be higher as high
as possible in order to realize excellent phase change recording in
contrast. Therefore, it is necessary for the information recording
mediums 1 through 5 to be recorded by a recording power of about 6
mW. It is necessary for absorptivity and transmissivity of the
recording layer 12 or 123 of the information recording mediums 1
through 5 to be relatively higher value therefor.
[0268] Noise of a semiconductor laser of gallium nitride system
compound and increasing of noise of a reproducing apparatus
equipped with such a semiconductor laser are explained
hereinbefore. However, it is necessary to pay attention to that
noise depends upon a reproduction power. When a laser noise is
measured by varying a reproduction power, it is found that noise
increases in a lower laser power by using a semiconductor laser of
gallium nitride system compound, particularly, it is found that
there is existed a critical point at the reproduction power of 0.35
mW on a surface of information recording medium. In other words, if
a reproduction power is below 0.35 mW, noise increases remarkably.
Therefore, it is necessary for a reproduction power of the
information recording mediums 1 through 5 to be more than 0.35
mW.
[0269] With respect to physical characteristics of the recording
layer 12 or 123, if a reproduction power is increased, the
recording layer is thermally damaged and there is existed a
phenomenon such that a record mark M disappears. Particularly, in a
case that a wavelength .lamda. is within the range of 350 to 450
nm, energy density of a spot S to be formed on an information
recording medium becomes larger than that of a red semiconductor
laser (of which wavelength .lamda. is within a range of 635 to 830
nm, for example). Therefore, a reproduction power is assigned to be
lower. However, since a minimum reproduction power is limited as
mentioned above, a permitted limit of reproduction power is obliged
to be narrower. In order to increase resistivity for reproduction
power, that is, in order to assign a reproduction power to be
higher, it is necessary for absorptivity and transmissivity of the
recording layer 12 or 123 of the information recording mediums 1
through 5 to be relatively lower value.
[0270] In consideration of general characteristics of a recording
apparatus and a reproducing apparatus, which are equipped with a
semiconductor laser of gallium nitride system compound as a light
emitting element, and physical characteristics of the recording
layer 12 or 123 composed of a phase change material totally, as
mentioned above, a recording power is assumed to be about 6 mW and
a reproduction power is necessary to be more than 0.35 mW. Further,
an information recording medium of which record mark M on the
recording layer 12 or 123 is hardly erased by the reproduction
power of more than 0.35 mW is required. In order to satisfy these
various limits, it is necessary for absorptivity and transmissivity
of the recording layer 12 or 123 of the information recording
mediums 1 through 5 to be relatively higher value with respect to a
material for the recording layer 12 or 123 of the information
recording mediums 1 through 5 due to limitation for recording
power. Furthermore, it is necessary for the absorptivity and
transmissivity to be relatively a lower value due to limitation of
resistivity for reproduction power.
[0271] In other words, it is necessary for absorptivity and
transmissivity to be set within a predetermined range. A total
amount of absorptivity, transmissivity and reflectivity is one.
Therefore, it is also necessary for the reflectivity to be set
within a predetermined range.
[0272] A range of reflectivity satisfying the above-mentioned
various limits is experimentally studied and a range of 12 to 26%
is found. Processes of experimental study are definitely explained
as embodiments 6 through 12 and comparative examples 4 and 5 herein
after.
Embodiments 6 through 12
[0273] FIG. 18 is a table showing reflectivity and reproduction
characteristics of embodiments 6 through 12 and comparative
examples 4 and 5.
[0274] Polycarbonate having a thickness of 1.1 mm is used for a
substrate 13 of a phase change type information recording medium 5.
Further, the information recording medium 5 is manufactured by
using materials such as Ag.sub.98Pd.sub.1Cu.sub.1 for a reflective
layer 121, ZnS--SiO.sub.2 (in the proportion of 80:20 in mol %) for
a first protective layer 122, Ge.sub.8Sb.sub.69Te.sub.23 for a
recording layer 123 and ZnS--SiO.sub.2 (in the proportion of 80:20
in mol %) for a second protective layer 124, wherein each layer is
formed in a certain film thickness shown in FIG. 18. Finally,
polycarbonate having a thickness of 0.10 mm is laminated on the
second protective layer 124 as a light transmission layer 11.
Consequently, the information recording medium 5 is completed.
[0275] An address data is recorded in a wobbling shape on a land
section L of the information recording medium 5 by the frequency
modulation method, wherein a phase having a phase difference of
.+-..pi./2.5 is selected so as for a wave to be continuous at a
point of changing a frequency.
[0276] The information recording medium 5 is designed with assuming
that it is recorded by using a light beam having a wavelength
.lamda. of 405 nm and an objective lens having a numerical aperture
NA of 0.85, and a pitch P between land sections L is 0.32 .mu.m.
The reflective layer 121 and recording layer 123 are formed in an
atmosphere of 5 mTorr of argon gas by the DC sputtering, wherein a
vacuum chamber used for sputtering is previously evacuated as low
as less than 1.times.10.sup.-6 Torr.
[0277] Further, the completed information recording medium 5 is
initialized such that the recording layer 123 is changed in phase
from an amorphous state low in reflectivity to a crystalline state
high in reflectivity by irradiating a laser beam from the light
transmission layer 11 side.
[0278] The information recording medium 5 is loaded into a
recording apparatus composed of a pickup having a wavelength
.lamda. of 405 nm and a numerical aperture NA of 0.85, and a
recording signal is recorded on a land section L by a modulated
signal, which is modulated by the 17PP modulation method, wherein a
minimum mark length (equivalent to 2 T) is 0.160 .mu.m. Conditions
for recording are as follows: 6.0 mW of recording power, 2.6 mW of
bias power, 0.1 mW of bottom power between multi-pulses and bottom
power of cooling pulse, and 5.3 m/s of linear velocity.
[0279] Further, recording is a so-called recording by multi-pulses
method, which adopts a three-value power modulation such that each
width of a head pulse and a succeeding pulse is 0.4 times the
recording period 1 T and a width of cooling pulse is 0.4 times the
recording period 1 T.
[0280] The information recording medium 5 recorded with the
above-mentioned recording signal is loaded into the reproducing
apparatus 40 equipped with the pickup 50 having the wavelength A of
405 nm and the numerical aperture NA of 0.85 shown in FIG. 15.
Items to be evaluated are as follows: reflectivity, modulated
amplitude, equivalent to (I8H-I8L)/I8H, reproduction laser power at
limit of deterioration, reproduction error rate of record mark M
and address error rate. The reproduction laser power at limit of
deterioration is obtained by measuring a power such that
reproducing the information recording medium 5 at the reproduction
power of 0.3 mW first, increasing the reproduction power from 0.3
mW gradually, and measure a power when it is recognized that
reproduction is deteriorated. The reproduction laser power at limit
of deterioration, reproduction error rate and address error rate
out of the items to be evaluated are judged by a reference value
and determined to be acceptable or not.
[0281] With respect to a standard for judging the reproduction
laser power at limit of deterioration, one can be reproduced by the
reproduction power of more than 0.35 mW is acceptable
(.largecircle.) and another can not be reproduced is not acceptable
(X). With respect to a standard for judging the reproduction error
rate, one can be reproduced by the error rate of less than
0.7.times.10.sup.-4 is acceptable (.largecircle.) and another can
not be reproduced is not acceptable (X). Further, with respect to a
standard for judging the address error rate, one can be reproduced
by the error rate of less than 5% (it is a limit of restoration by
an error correction) is acceptable (.largecircle.) and another can
not be reproduced is not acceptable (X). Actual values of
reflectivity, modulated amplitude and reproduction laser power at
limit of deterioration, and judgment result of reproduction laser
power at limit of deterioration, reproduction error rate and
address error rate are summarized in FIG. 18. In FIG. 18, "Emb."
and "Comp." represent "Embodiment" and "comparative example"
respectively.
[0282] As shown in FIG. 18, each information recording medium 5
manufactured by having a reflectivity within a range of 12 to 26%
according to the embodiments 6 through 12 is excellent in
deteriorated reproduction, reproduction error rate and address
error rate. Consequently, the information recording medium
according to the embodiments 6 through 12 can satisfy performance
as a total system.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4
[0283] An information recording medium of which each layer is
altered so as for a reflectivity to be 11.0% is prepared for the
information recording medium 5 according to the comparative example
4 and evaluated as the same manner as mentioned above in the
embodiments 6 through 12. A result of evaluation is listed in FIG.
18.
[0284] According to the information recording medium 5 of the
comparative example 4, reproduction is deteriorated at the
reproduction power of 0.34 mW. Therefore, it is judged that
sensitivity of the recording layer 123 is too high. Accordingly, an
information recording medium having a reflectivity of less than 11%
is not suitable for a total system.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 5
[0285] An information recording medium of which each layer is
altered so as for a reflectivity to be 28.2% is prepared for the
information recording medium 5 according to the comparative example
5 and evaluated as the same manner as mentioned above in the
embodiments 6 through 12. A result of evaluation is listed in FIG.
18.
[0286] In a case of the comparative example 5, there is not existed
a problem of deteriorated reproduction. However, the reproduction
error rate is high and resulted in defective. It is supposed to be
a cause that the modulated amplitude is too small as low as 0.389.
In other words, it is supposed that sensitivity of the recording
layer 123 is too low to be recorded in sufficient contrast.
Therefore, an information recording medium having a reflectivity of
more than 28% is not suitable for a total system.
[0287] According to the evaluation result of the embodiments 6
through 12 and the comparative examples 4 and 5, it is understood
that a range of reflectivity suitable for a total system is 12 to
26%.
[0288] With referring to FIG. 17, the embodiments 6 through 12, the
comparative examples 4 and 5 and FIG. 18, the information recording
mediums 1 through 5 are explained hereinbefore. According to the
present invention, in consideration of that noise inherent to a
laser is added to a reproduced signal while reproducing the
information recording medium 1, the reflectivity is assigned to be
more than 5%, preferably to be within a range of 12 to 26%.
Accordingly, an information recording medium having a signal
characteristic of compensating an increased component caused by
laser noise is provided.
[0289] The reproducing apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 15 of the present
invention and the information recording mediums 1 through 5 of the
present invention, which are loaded therein, are explained above.
The first reproduction apparatus 40 explained hereinbefore is a
reproducing apparatus for reading out information recorded in the
recording layer 12 or 123, particularly, can reproduce contents
recorded continuously for a long period of time. For example, it
can be used for reproducing a HDTV (high definition television)
program and a movie recorded by video equipment.
[0290] With referring to FIG. 19, a second reproducing apparatus 41
according to the present invention is explained next.
[0291] A case of using the information recording medium 1 as for an
information recording medium is explained hereinafter. However, the
other information recording mediums 2 through 5 is the same
situation as the information recording medium 1.
[0292] The second reproducing apparatus 41 is identical to the
first reproducing apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 15 except for being
equipped with an auxiliary information demodulator 56 allocated
between the pickup 50 and the controller 60, wherein an auxiliary
information is read out by a pickup 50. It is a reproducing
apparatus used for index reproducing a HDTV program and a movie in
video recording and for index reproducing a computer recorded with
data.
[0293] As mentioned above, a signal transmitted from the pickup 50
and to the demodulator 54 is a total sum signal (that is,
Ia+Ib+Ic+Id) of output from all 4 sections of a 4-division light
detector not shown, wherein each of Ia, Ib, Ic and Id corresponds
to each output of a 4-division light detector for a DVD disc
defined by the JIS Standard No. X6241: 1997. On the other hand,
another signal transmitted from the pickup 50 to the auxiliary
information demodulator 56 is a differential signal (that is,
"(Ia-Ib)-(Ic-Id)") of output from the 4-division light detector in
the radial direction. An auxiliary information recorded in a shape
of wobbling groove on the information recording medium 1 can be
extracted by monitoring the differential signal because the
wobbling is formed in the radial direction.
[0294] With respect to an actual configuration of the auxiliary
information demodulator 56, it is composed of at least one of an
amplitude modulation (AM) demodulator, a frequency modulation (FM)
demodulator and a phase modulation (PM) demodulator. In a case of
the AM demodulator, an envelope detector circuit can be suitably
used. In a case of the FM demodulator, a frequency detector circuit
and a synchronous detector circuit can be suitably used. In a case
of the PM detector, a synchronous detector circuit, a delay
detector circuit and an envelope detector circuit can be suitably
used. A sum signal may leak in a differential signal in the radial
direction although it is quite little. In order to avoid such
leakage, a band pass filter tuned in a frequency band of the
auxiliary information can be connected in front of the auxiliary
information demodulator 56.
[0295] Operations of the second reproducing apparatus 41 are
explained next.
[0296] A reproducing light 70 is emitted from a light emitting
element 50a of the pickup 50 and converged at the microscopic
pattern 20 in the information recording medium 1. Actually, the
reproducing light 70 is focused on the microscopic pattern 20,
which is allocated at a depth of 0.07 to 0.12 mm equivalent to a
thickness of the light transmission layer 11. Succeedingly,
tracking of the reproducing light 70 is performed to either one of
the groove section G or the land section L. The tracking is
performed with choosing a predetermined side. However, as mentioned
above, choosing the land section L is most desirable.
[0297] Then, an auxiliary information is read out by transmitting
the differential signal ("(Ia+Ib)-(Ic+Id)") in the radial direction
from the pickup 50 to the auxiliary information demodulator 56. At
this moment, with paying attention to an address information out of
various kinds of auxiliary information, the auxiliary information
is compared with an address for indexing a data inputted to a
controller 60.
[0298] If the auxiliary information does not coincide with the
address, the controller 60 sends a signal to a servo device 52 and
directs to search. Searching is performed such that a number of
rotations of a motor 51 is reset to a number of rotations, which is
suitable for a radius between the motor 51 and the pickup 50,
according to movement in the radial direction of the pickup 50
while scanning the movement of the pickup 50 in the radial
direction. During a process of scanning, an address outputted from
the auxiliary information demodulator 56, which receives a
differential signal from the pickup 50, is compared with a certain
address. The searching is continued until they coincide with each
other. When they coincide, scanning in the radial direction is
interrupted and reproduction is switched over to continuous
reproduction. An output from the demodulator 54, which is inputted
with the sum signal (Ia+Ib+Ic+Id), becomes a signal of a
demodulated data stream obtained by indexing and is inputted to an
interface (I/F) 55. Finally, a signal is outputted externally in
accordance with controlling by the controller 60.
[0299] As mentioned above, the information recording medium 1 and
the second reproducing apparatus 41 according to the present
invention are designed for coping with the reproducing light 70,
which is produced by the light emitting element 50a having single
wavelength .lamda. within the range of 350 to 450 nm and the
objective lens 50b having the numerical aperture NA of 0.75 to 0.9.
Therefore, the second reproducing apparatus can preferably
reproduce an auxiliary information and perform index reproduction
of a data stream in conjunction with reproducing the information
recording medium 1 preferably.
[0300] With referring to FIG. 20, a recording apparatus 90
according to the present invention is explained, wherein the
information recording medium 1 is used as an information recording
medium for explaining functions and operations of the recording
apparatus 90. However, the other information recording mediums 2
through 5 are the same situations as the information recording
medium 1.
[0301] FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a recording apparatus
according to the present invention.
[0302] As shown in FIG. 20, the recording apparatus 90 is similar
to the second reproducing apparatus 41 shown in FIG. 19 except for
that the demodulator 54 is replaced with a modulator 82 for
modulating an original data and a waveform converter 83 for
transforming a modulated signal from the modulator 82 into a form
suitable for recording on the information recording medium 1, which
are connected in series. Further the I/F 55 is replaced with an
interface (I/F) 81 for receiving an external signal to be
recorded.
[0303] The recording apparatus 90 is an apparatus for recording a
computer data, for example, at a predetermined address newly or
recording a HDTV program or a movie continuously from a
predetermined address as a video recording.
[0304] The modulator 82 is a modulator of converting an 8-bit
original data into 16 bits, in the case of the 8/16 modulation (EFM
plus) method for a DVD disc. The waveform converter 82 transforms a
modulated signal received from the modulator 82 into a form
suitable for recording on the information recording medium 1.
Actually, the waveform converter 83 is a converter, which converts
the modulated signal into a recording pulse satisfying a recording
characteristic of the recording layer 12 of the information
recording medium 1. For example, in a case that the recording layer
12 is composed of a phase change material, a so-called multi-pulse
is formed. In other words, the modulated signal is divided into a
unit of a channel bit or less and power is changed into a
rectangular waveform, wherein peak power, bottom power erase power
and a pulse time duration constituting a multi-pulse are assigned
in accordance with a direction of a controller 60.
[0305] Operations of the recording apparatus 90 are explained
next.
[0306] A reproducing light 70 is emitted from a light emitting
element 50a of a pickup 50 and converged at the microscopic pattern
20 in the information recording medium 1. Actually, the reproducing
light 70 is focused on the microscopic pattern 20, which is
allocated at a depth of 0.07 to 0.12 mm equivalent to a thickness
of the light transmission layer 11. Succeedingly, tracking of the
reproducing light 70 is performed to either one of the groove
section G or the land section L. The tracking is performed with
choosing a predetermined side. However, as mentioned above,
choosing the land section L is most desirable. Then, an auxiliary
information is read out by transmitting the differential signal
("(Ia+Ib)-(Ic+Id)") in the radial direction from the pickup 50 to
an auxiliary information demodulator 56.
[0307] At this moment, with paying attention to an address
information out of various kinds of auxiliary information, the
auxiliary information is compared with an address for indexing a
data inputted to the controller 60. If the auxiliary information
does not coincide with the address, the controller 60 sends a
signal to a servo device 52 and directs to search. Searching is
performed such that a number of rotations of a motor 51 is reset to
a number of rotations, which is suitable for a radius between the
motor 51 and the pickup 50, according to movement in the radial
direction of the pickup 50 while scanning the movement of the
pickup 50 in the radial direction.
[0308] During a process of scanning, an address outputted from the
auxiliary information demodulator 56, which receives a differential
signal from the pickup 50, is compared with a certain address. The
searching is continued until they coincide with each other. When
they coincide, scanning in the radial direction is interrupted and
reproduction is switched over to continuous reproduction. In other
words, a data inputted from the I/F 81 is modulated by the
modulator 82 in accordance with controlling by the controller 60.
Succeedingly, the data modulated by controlling of the controller
60 is inputted to the waveform converter 83 and converted into a
format suitable for recording, and then outputted to a pickup
50.
[0309] In the pickup 50, a recording light 80 of which a recording
power is altered to that assigned by the waveform converter 83 is
generated and irradiated on the information recording medium 1.
Consequently, recording at a predetermined address on the
information recording medium 1 is performed. It is possible that
the differential signal ("(Ia+Ib)-(Ic+Id)") in the radial direction
is read out by the recording light 80, and an address can be
extracted from the auxiliary information demodulator 56 even while
recording. Therefore, a regional recording limited as far as an
address desired by a user can be realized.
[0310] As mentioned above, the information recording medium 1 and
the recording apparatus 90 according to the present invention are
designed for coping with the reproducing light 70 and the recording
light 80, which are generated by the light emitting element 50a
having single wavelength .lamda. within the range of 350 to 450 nm
and an objective lens 50b having the numerical aperture NA of 0.75
to 0.9. Therefore, the recording apparatus 90 can preferably record
on the information recording medium 1 and, at the same time can
reproduce an auxiliary information, and then perform random
indexing for recording.
[0311] The information recording mediums 1 through 5, the first and
second reproducing apparatuses 40 and 41 and the recording
apparatus 90 are explained in details hereinbefore. Further, in the
embodiments of the present invention, fundamental areas of the
present invention are explained. However, it is apparent that many
changes, modifications and variations in the arrangement of
equipment and devices and in materials without departing from the
invention concept disclosed herein. For example, an information
recording medium having multi-layers (for instance, triple and
quadruple layers) of a set of the recording layer 7 and the light
transmission layer 8 laminated together can be applicable other
than the information recording medium 1 having a single layer and
double layers of the microscopic pattern 20.
[0312] Furthermore, with respect to the first and second
reproducing apparatus 40 and 41 and the recording apparatus 90, it
is also apparent that each operation of them is not limited to
those mentioned above without departing the invention concept
disclosed herein. For example, a reproducing method and a recording
method, which derive from replacing each operation of the first and
second reproducing apparatuses 40 and 41 and the recording
apparatus 90 with each step of reproducing and recording processes,
can be introduced for the present invention. Moreover, it is
apparent that a computer program, which performs each step of the
reproducing method, and another computer program, which performs
each step of the reproducing method, are included in the present
invention.
[Effect of the Invention]
[0313] As mentioned above, according to an aspect of the present
invention, there provided an information recording medium, which is
at least composed of a substrate having a microscopic pattern
constituted by a shape of continuous substance of approximately
parallel grooves formed with a groove section and a land section
alternately, a recording layer formed on the microscopic pattern
and a light transmission layer formed on the recording layer.
Further, the microscopic pattern is formed with having a relation
of P<.lamda.<NA and a thickness of the light transmission
layer is within a range of 0.07 to 0.12 mm, wherein P is a pitch of
the groove section or the land section, .lamda. is a wavelength of
reproducing light beam and NA is a numerical aperture of objective
lens. Therefore, an information recording medium, which can reduce
cross erase and also be recorded in higher density, can be
obtained. Furthermore, recording in accordance with difference of
reflectivity or phase difference is performed by assigning
modulated amplitude to be more than 0.4, so that an error rate can
be decreased to a practical level.
[0314] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
provided a reproducing apparatus for reproducing an information
recording medium, which is composed of a substrate having a
microscopic pattern constituted by a shape of continuous substance
of approximately parallel grooves formed with a groove section and
a land section alternately. The reproducing apparatus is at least
composed of a light emitting element of which a wavelength of
reproducing light is .lamda. nm, and having RIN (relative intensity
noise) of less than -125 dB/Hz and an objective lens having a
numerical aperture NA. Further, the .lamda. is within a range of
350 to 450 nm and the NA is within a range of 0.75 to 0.9.
Furthermore, the reproducing light is irradiated on either one of
the land section and the groove section. Therefore, cross erase can
be reduced.
[0315] In the information recording medium according to the present
invention, an auxiliary information such as an address data is
recorded in shape on a part of or all over the microscopic pattern
by an amplitude modulation (AM) method, so that an information can
be demodulated even in a low C/N (carrier to noise ratio)
circumstance. Further, an auxiliary information such as an address
data is recorded in shape on a part of or all over the microscopic
pattern by a frequency modulation (FM) method, so that an
information can be demodulated by a simplified circuit.
Particularly, by using the FM method selected with a proper phase,
which is suitable for two waves to be connected continuously at a
point where their frequencies change over, a reproduction envelope
becomes approximately constant and stable reproduction can be
realized. Furthermore, an auxiliary information such as an address
data is recorded in shape on a part of or all over the microscopic
pattern by a phase modulation (PM) method, so that an information
can be demodulated by a synchronous detection even in a low C/N
circumstance. In particular, if phase difference between a high
frequency component and a low frequency component is assigned to be
.+-..pi./2.5, excellent signal demodulation can be realized by the
synchronous detection even in a low C/N circumstance.
[0316] In addition thereto, an auxiliary information such as an
address data can be improved in stability of readout, if the
auxiliary information is previously formed in a data modulated in a
base-band, in which a number of same bits continuing is limited to
be less than a predetermined quantity.
[0317] It should be understood that many modifications and
adaptations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled
in the art and it is intended to encompass such obvious
modifications and changes in the scope of the claims appended
hereto.
* * * * *